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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. scale — in music
  3. pitch — completely
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. perch — the fish
  8. bore — to tire
  9. key — in music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. march — music
  12. scale — size or range
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. march — the month
  15. march — the month
  16. saw — the tool
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bore — to drill
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a dance
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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