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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: capital · rock · pass · ground · perch · key · roll · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. roll — a list
  3. perch — the fish
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — a position
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. capital — a city
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. roll — a cake
  11. pass — a permit
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. ground — the earth
  14. key — in music
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. capital — money
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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