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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: row · fan · scale · jam · mug · chip · racket · wax

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. row — to paddle
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. row — a line
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. scale — size or range
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — to rob
  15. scale — in music
  16. chip — for betting
  17. chip — to eat
  18. mug — a face
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. wax — to grow
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. fan — a supporter

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