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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
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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: ball · prune · roll · date · present · fall · bass · ruler

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  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. roll — on a roll
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. date — the fruit
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. present — the time now
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bass — the fish
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. present — a gift
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bass — low music
  13. ball — a dance
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. fall — to drop
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — a cake
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fall — to drop
  20. present — there
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. fall — the season
  23. ball — a great time
  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