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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. scale — size or range
  3. rash — a series
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. net — in sport
  7. fine — all right
  8. key — for a lock
  9. saw — the tool
  10. net — after costs
  11. key — in music
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. net — for catching
  17. chair — a leader
  18. rash — hasty
  19. key — the most important part
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. fine — high quality
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. scale — in music
  24. chair — to sit on

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