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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rock — music
  3. pop — to visit
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. scale — in music
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pop — soda
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. drill — the tool
  16. scale — size or range
  17. drill — a practice
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. drill — army training
  23. rock — a stone
  24. mouse — the animal

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