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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. hand — in cards
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. bank — for money
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bank — for money
  11. wax — to grow
  12. pass — a permit
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. scale — size or range
  15. chip — for betting
  16. chip — to eat
  17. hand — help
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bank — of a river

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