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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. suit — in cards
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. suit — to fit
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. season — of the year
  9. toast — bread
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. suit — clothes
  12. last — to go on
  13. can — to be able to
  14. scale — size or range
  15. season — in sport
  16. last — finally
  17. net — after costs
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. net — for catching
  20. last — final
  21. can — a tin
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. net — in sport
  24. can — a tin

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