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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bank — for money
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. scale — in music
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bank — of a river
  11. season — of the year
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bulb — for light
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bulb — for light
  19. season — in sport
  20. date — the fruit
  21. bank — for money
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. nail — for a hammer

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