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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. rest — what's left
  3. rest — what's left
  4. scale — size or range
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. pop — music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. tube — a container
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. tube — the underground
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. scale — in music
  15. bore — to tire
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pitch — completely
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rest — a break
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bore — to drill
  24. pop — soda

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