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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. perch — the fish
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mark — a trace
  6. ground — a position
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. mark — a grade
  9. ground — crushed
  10. scale — size or range
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. object — to protest
  13. object — an aim
  14. ground — the earth
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. object — a thing
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cabinet — ministers

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