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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. spell — a short time
  5. scale — in music
  6. spring — the season
  7. spring — of water
  8. spell — magic
  9. present — there
  10. spring — a coil
  11. squash — to crush
  12. present — the time now
  13. cue — for pool
  14. object — an aim
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. present — a gift
  18. scale — size or range
  19. squash — the sport
  20. object — to protest
  21. spell — letters
  22. cue — a hint
  23. object — a thing
  24. cue — a signal

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