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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bank — for money
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. toast — bread
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bulb — for light
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bank — for money
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. plane — a tool
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hand — help
  23. bank — of a river
  24. scale — size or range

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