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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: firm · nail · mine · scale · racket · press · rash · key

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. rash — a series
  3. press — to push
  4. scale — size or range
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — newspapers
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. firm — decided
  10. mine — for digging
  11. key — for a lock
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. rash — hasty
  15. key — in music
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. firm — a company
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. key — the most important part
  24. firm — steady

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