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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
468
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 · patient · temple · mouse · wound · cue · fine · row

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. scale — in music
  5. wound — an injury
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. row — a line
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fine — all right
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. scale — size or range
  18. row — to paddle
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. wound — an injury
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. fine — high quality

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