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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.

Make a worksheet

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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. net — for catching
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. scale — size or range
  5. scale — in music
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — in sport
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bank — for money
  15. content — the amount
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. net — after costs
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bank — for money
  20. key — in music
  21. content — happy
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. key — for a lock
  24. content — videos and posts

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