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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — a practice
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. scale — in music
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cap — a lid
  7. cap — of ice
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. cap — a hat
  17. scale — size or range
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. drill — army training
  20. band — a ring
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. band — a music group

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