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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 120 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: stand · can · march · key · spell · dip · scale · arm

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. spell — magic
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. can — a tin
  8. spell — a short time
  9. can — a tin
  10. dip — to sink
  11. march — the month
  12. march — music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. march — the month
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. spell — letters
  17. key — the most important part
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. can — to be able to
  20. key — in music
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stand — to bear
  24. scale — size or range

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