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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: arm · scale · row · mouse · key · cabinet · mark · foot

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. scale — in music
  9. row — to paddle
  10. scale — size or range
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mark — a trace
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. row — a line
  23. mark — a grade
  24. cabinet — ministers

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