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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
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: fan · ruler · bulb · scale · staff · swing · bass · current

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. scale — in music
  4. current — happening now
  5. current — electric
  6. staff — employees
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bass — the fish
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. current — of water
  16. staff — employees
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. swing — to play on
  19. staff — a stick
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. swing — in golf
  22. bulb — for light
  23. scale — size or range
  24. swing — music

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