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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: degree · ruler · pitcher · lean · cue · lash · scale · rash

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lean — to bend
  4. scale — in music
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lean — thin
  9. degree — temperature
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. degree — an amount
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cue — a hint
  18. degree — from a university
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. scale — size or range
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rash — a series
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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