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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: ruler · wake · board · root · key · bass · fine · cue

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. board — a committee
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. key — the most important part
  8. cue — a hint
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. root — of a word
  12. bass — the fish
  13. fine — high quality
  14. board — to get on
  15. cue — a signal
  16. key — for a lock
  17. fine — all right
  18. bass — low music
  19. wake — a trail
  20. cue — for pool
  21. key — in music
  22. root — the cause
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. root — of a plant

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