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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. scale — in music
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. firm — a company
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. roll — a list
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fork — in a road
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. firm — steady
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. firm — decided

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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