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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 116 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: cabinet · scale · sharp · pitcher · key · board · root · wave

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. key — for a lock
  4. sharp — clever
  5. key — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. board — a committee
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. root — of a word
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. root — of a plant
  19. key — the most important part
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. root — the cause
  24. board — to get on

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