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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: ruler · scale · pit · perch · net · lash · sharp · leaves

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. scale — size or range
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. sharp — clever
  12. perch — the fish
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — for catching
  15. scale — in music
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. net — in sport
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. pit — in a race

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