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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.

Make a worksheet

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: prune · mug · deal · track · bear · bay · scale · coach

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. track — to keep track
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. prune — to trim
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. track — a song
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. track — a path
  13. mug — a face
  14. scale — size or range
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mug — a cup
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. deal — to handle
  22. mug — to rob
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. scale — for weighing

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