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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. track — a song
  3. rest — a break
  4. rush — hurry
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. rest — what's left
  7. wound — an injury
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. scale — size or range
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bore — to tire
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bore — to drill
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a path
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. scale — in music
  23. rest — what's left
  24. wound — an injury

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