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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pass · ruler · scale · track · plane · season · patient · perch

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. track — a song
  3. perch — the fish
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. season — in sport
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pass — a permit
  18. track — a path
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. scale — size or range
  22. plane — a tool
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. scale — in music

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