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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: snap · lie · bass · mine · ruler · can · fan · rock

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bass — low music
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rock — music
  7. can — a tin
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. bass — the fish
  12. snap — to click
  13. rock — a stone
  14. can — a tin
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — to be able to
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. mine — for digging

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