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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. board — to get on
  3. staff — a stick
  4. saw — the tool
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — for catching
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. board — a committee
  12. saw — the tool
  13. scale — in music
  14. staff — employees
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. key — the most important part
  18. staff — employees
  19. bank — for money
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — in music
  22. scale — size or range
  23. net — in sport
  24. perch — the fish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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