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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
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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: key · scale · staff · mate · straw · leaves · date · race

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. key — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. key — the most important part
  8. staff — employees
  9. race — humankind
  10. mate — a friend
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. mate — to breed
  13. key — for a lock
  14. date — the fruit
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. race — a contest
  17. mate — a partner
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. staff — a stick
  20. race — the arms race
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. staff — employees

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