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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: foot · track · pass · ground · lash · ruler · perch · scale

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. ground — a position
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. ground — crushed
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. foot — a measure
  7. scale — size or range
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pass — a permit
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. track — a song
  15. ground — the earth
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. perch — the fish
  19. track — a path
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. scale — in music
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. track — to keep track

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