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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. ground — the earth
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — letters
  5. deal — to handle
  6. spell — a short time
  7. ground — crushed
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. dip — to sink
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. cue — for pool
  14. land — to come down
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. cue — a signal
  17. land — ground
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. scale — size or range
  20. ground — a position
  21. land — a country
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. cue — a hint
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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