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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rock — a stone
  4. scale — in music
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. band — a music group
  8. rest — what's left
  9. can — to be able to
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. can — a tin
  12. band — a ring
  13. suit — clothes
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — music
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. rest — what's left
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. sharp — clever
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rest — a break

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