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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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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: firm · fan · bore · pit · rest · chip · scale · pass

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. firm — a company
  3. rest — a break
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. scale — size or range
  6. rest — what's left
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bore — to tire
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bore — to drill
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. firm — steady
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rest — what's left
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. firm — decided

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