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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.

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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. fork — in a road
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. scale — in music
  6. content — happy
  7. suit — in cards
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bass — low music
  10. mug — a cup
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. bass — the fish
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. wax — to grow
  18. content — the amount
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. mug — a face
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. suit — clothes

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