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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.

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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: foot · cabinet · mark · racket · scale · wax · craft · ruler

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a trace
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. scale — in music
  11. craft — boats
  12. foot — a measure
  13. scale — size or range
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. craft — a skill
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. wax — to grow

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