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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
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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: land · pitcher · scale · pass · toast · row · rash · key

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. rash — a series
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. land — to come down
  6. row — a line
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pass — a permit
  10. toast — bread
  11. key — in music
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. scale — size or range
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. land — a country
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. key — for a lock
  19. land — ground
  20. key — the most important part
  21. scale — in music
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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