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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 116 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: can · pass · scale · press · ruler · bound · saw · pitch

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. press — to push
  6. can — a tin
  7. bound — tied together
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — certain
  11. pitch — completely
  12. scale — size or range
  13. press — newspapers
  14. pass — a permit
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. saw — the tool
  17. scale — in music
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. can — a tin
  22. press — a publisher
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. saw — the tool

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