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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 116 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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. spring — a coil
  3. bound — tied together
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. spring — of water
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. spring — the season
  12. scale — size or range
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bound — obliged
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bound — certain
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. sharp — clever
  24. racket — for tennis

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