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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: kid · wave · suit · leaves · mouse · scale · ball · cap

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. kid — child
  3. suit — clothes
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. cap — of ice
  6. scale — in music
  7. suit — to fit
  8. kid — to tease
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. scale — size or range
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. ball — a great time
  16. cap — a lid
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ball — a dance
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. suit — in cards
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. cap — a hat

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