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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · rule · mark · coach · tube · ball · bass · scale

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. mark — a grade
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. scale — in music
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bass — the fish
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. ball — a great time
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. tube — the underground
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rule — a law
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. tube — a container
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mark — a trace
  22. scale — size or range
  23. bass — low music
  24. scale — for weighing

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com