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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: pound · fan · last · chip · scale · mark · ruler · pitcher

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pound — a weight
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. chip — for betting
  9. mark — a grade
  10. chip — to eat
  11. mark — a trace
  12. scale — size or range
  13. scale — in music
  14. last — to go on
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. last — final
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. last — finally
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. ruler — a monarch

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