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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
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: ground · scale · kid · board · cue · content · bulb · leaves

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. ground — the earth
  3. board — a committee
  4. kid — child
  5. scale — size or range
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — crushed
  8. bulb — for light
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bulb — for light
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. board — to get on
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. cue — a hint
  18. kid — to tease
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. content — happy
  22. scale — in music
  23. cue — a signal
  24. content — the amount

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