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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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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: bass · file · fall · ruler · board · ground · track · current

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. track — a song
  5. bass — low music
  6. track — to keep track
  7. file — a line of people
  8. current — happening now
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. file — a document
  11. board — a committee
  12. file — a tool
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. track — a path
  15. current — of water
  16. board — to get on
  17. fall — to drop
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. fall — to drop
  20. ground — a position
  21. fall — the season
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bass — the fish
  24. current — electric

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