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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: pass · board · tube · snap · ball · hand · scale · ruler

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. hand — help
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. snap — to click
  6. ball — a great time
  7. board — to get on
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. ball — a dance
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. pass — a permit
  16. tube — the underground
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. scale — size or range
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. scale — in music
  21. board — a committee
  22. tube — a container
  23. hand — in cards
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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