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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. scale — in music
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. ball — a great time
  6. rash — a series
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. rash — hasty
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. bass — low music
  19. bass — the fish
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. ball — a dance
  22. can — a tin
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. stand — to bear

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