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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: perch · sharp · scale · safe · plane · branch · ruler · club

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. club — a group
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. perch — the fish
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. club — for dancing
  11. plane — a tool
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. club — for golf
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. scale — in music
  22. sharp — clever
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. branch — a division

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