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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: mark · suit · scale · rule · hide · bark · jam · rock

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — in music
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rule — a law
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. suit — clothes
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. rule — government
  12. suit — in cards
  13. mark — a grade
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — music
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rock — a stone
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bark — to shout
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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