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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: tube · rock · prune · ruler · bass · foot · pitcher · racket

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — music
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. rock — a stone
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. prune — to trim
  12. tube — the underground
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. foot — a measure
  22. tube — a container
  23. bass — the fish
  24. foot — part of the body

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