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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.

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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: pitcher · hand · scale · mate · ruler · bowl · jam · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. hand — help
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. hand — in cards
  13. scale — in music
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. scale — size or range
  23. mate — a partner
  24. nail — on a finger

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