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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: scale · nail · cabinet · pitcher · prune · key

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. prune — to trim
  5. scale — size or range
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. key — for a lock
  8. prune — to trim
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. scale — in music
  15. key — in music
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. key — the most important part

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