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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: toast · ruler · can · deal · pit · bear · sharp · scale

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. scale — in music
  6. can — a tin
  7. deal — to handle
  8. can — to be able to
  9. pit — a hole
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. scale — size or range
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. toast — bread
  22. pit — in a race
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — for measuring

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