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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.

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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: mark · chip · bass · ruler · patient · deal · ground · rush

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. bass — low music
  9. deal — to handle
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. chip — to eat
  12. mark — a grade
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. ground — crushed
  20. chip — for betting
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. ground — the earth
  24. ground — a position

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