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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 120 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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. scale — in music
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. fine — all right
  7. scale — size or range
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. fine — high quality
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cue — a signal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. craft — boats
  18. craft — a skill
  19. cue — a hint
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pass — a permit

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