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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: coach · mark · racket · scale · lean · dip · sharp · ruler

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. mark — a trace
  3. scale — size or range
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. lean — thin
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. mark — a grade
  10. sharp — clever
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. dip — to sink
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. scale — in music
  24. lean — to bend

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