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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: scale · rock · capital · foot · bowl · roll · leaves · plane

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — a tool
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rock — music
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. rock — a stone
  11. capital — a city
  12. roll — a list
  13. roll — a cake
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. scale — size or range
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. foot — a measure
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. scale — in music
  24. rock — to move gently

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