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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 120 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: scale · mouse · last · bore · rest · bay · ball · lash

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. rest — a break
  4. bore — to drill
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — size or range
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. last — to go on
  17. last — final
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. ball — a great time
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. last — finally
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. ball — a dance

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