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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rash — hasty
  8. scale — in music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. game — a match
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. scale — size or range
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rash — a series
  18. game — wild animals
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. pitch — completely
  24. rash — on the skin

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