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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rock — a stone
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. mark — a trace
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. staff — a stick
  10. rock — music
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. dip — to sink
  16. saw — the tool
  17. scale — size or range
  18. lie — to recline
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. staff — employees
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. staff — employees
  24. ball — a dance

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