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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bear — the animal
  5. net — for catching
  6. net — after costs
  7. current — electric
  8. spell — letters
  9. current — happening now
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bank — of a river
  12. current — of water
  13. spell — magic
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. bank — for money
  16. game — wild animals
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. scale — size or range
  19. game — a match
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. net — in sport
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bank — for money

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