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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. object — an aim
  3. file — a tool
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — size or range
  6. mug — to rob
  7. net — in sport
  8. prune — to trim
  9. mug — a cup
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. track — a path
  12. bank — of a river
  13. net — after costs
  14. object — a thing
  15. track — a song
  16. object — to protest
  17. mug — a face
  18. bank — for money
  19. track — to keep track
  20. net — for catching
  21. bank — for money
  22. file — a document
  23. file — a line of people
  24. prune — to trim

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