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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 120 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 · nail · season · hide · snap · current · ruler · lean

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. scale — in music
  3. season — in sport
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. lean — thin
  9. current — electric
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. season — of the year
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. lean — to bend
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. scale — size or range
  18. current — of water
  19. snap — to click
  20. current — happening now
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. hide — animal skin

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