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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. staff — employees
  3. march — the month
  4. bank — for money
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. bank — of a river
  7. key — the most important part
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. staff — employees
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. staff — a stick
  14. foot — a measure
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. march — the month
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bank — for money
  20. scale — in music
  21. key — in music
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. march — music
  24. key — for a lock

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