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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: bear · safe · racket · pitcher · scale · bass · content · cabinet

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. scale — in music
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bear — the animal
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. content — happy
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bass — low music
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. content — the amount
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. cabinet — ministers

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