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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: pass · bore · jam · bass · court · ruler · scale · spell

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. spell — magic
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — in music
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. scale — size or range
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. court — of a king
  12. court — of law
  13. spell — letters
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bore — to tire
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. spell — a short time
  18. court — for sport
  19. bass — low music
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bore — to drill
  22. bass — the fish
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bass — the instrument

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