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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: suit · stem · pitcher · scale · key · rush · jam · ruler

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. key — in music
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. key — the most important part
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — to fit
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. scale — in music
  14. scale — size or range
  15. rush — hurry
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. stem — to come from
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. suit — in cards
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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