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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
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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: bear · pop · saw · rush · key · cell · scale · mouse

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. cell — in biology
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. pop — soda
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. scale — size or range
  11. bear — the animal
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. pop — to visit
  14. key — for a lock
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — in music
  18. pop — music
  19. rush — hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. cell — a phone
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. mouse — the animal

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