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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: rest · scale · cabinet · bear · pass · cue · pitcher · stock

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. cue — for pool
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stock — goods
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rest — a break
  10. scale — in music
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. stock — shares
  13. scale — size or range
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. rest — what's left
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bear — the animal
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rest — what's left

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