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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.

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: scale · ball · ruler · bass · band · toast · patient · deal

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. ball — a great time
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. band — a music group
  6. band — a ring
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. scale — size or range
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. ball — a dance
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bass — low music
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. deal — to handle
  21. bass — the fish
  22. scale — in music
  23. toast — bread
  24. ruler — a monarch

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