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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. key — for a lock
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. scale — in music
  5. season — of the year
  6. firm — decided
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. scale — size or range
  10. game — wild animals
  11. kid — to tease
  12. key — the most important part
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. season — in sport
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. kid — child
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. firm — steady
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. game — a match
  23. key — in music
  24. firm — a company

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