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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: perch · mark · date · rock · swing · hand · ruler · scale

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. rock — a stone
  4. mark — a trace
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. swing — music
  9. hand — in cards
  10. rock — music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. perch — the fish
  13. mark — a grade
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. date — the fruit
  16. swing — to play on
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. swing — in golf
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. hand — help
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. scale — for weighing

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