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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: scale · saw · clip · pass · cabinet · ruler · spell · stock

  1. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. spell — magic
  6. clip — a video
  7. stock — shares
  8. spell — a short time
  9. saw — the tool
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. saw — the tool
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pass — a permit
  16. spell — letters
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. scale — in music
  20. clip — to cut
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. stock — goods
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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