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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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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: sharp · bass · rock · fan · net · content · stem · ruler

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. net — in sport
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. net — after costs
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bass — the fish
  11. content — the amount
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bass — low music
  14. sharp — clever
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. content — happy
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. net — for catching
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rock — music
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bass — the instrument

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