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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 116 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: ruler · snap · rock · ground · mark · bat · rush · scale

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ground — crushed
  7. scale — size or range
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. scale — in music
  11. ground — a position
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. rock — music
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. bat — the animal
  21. mark — a trace
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bat — for baseball
  24. snap — to click

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