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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. cell — in biology
  3. cell — a phone
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bound — tied together
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. bound — obliged
  10. firm — decided
  11. game — wild animals
  12. bound — certain
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. scale — size or range
  15. current — happening now
  16. game — a match
  17. firm — a company
  18. fine — all right
  19. firm — steady
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. fine — high quality
  22. current — of water
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. current — electric

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