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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 116 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. spring — of water
  4. rock — a stone
  5. firm — a company
  6. spring — a coil
  7. saw — the tool
  8. firm — decided
  9. saw — the tool
  10. scale — size or range
  11. season — of the year
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a hole
  14. season — in sport
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rock — music
  18. firm — steady
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. wound — an injury
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. wound — an injury
  23. spring — the season
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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