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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: object · rock · rush · plane · game · scale · bowl · roll

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. scale — in music
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. plane — a tool
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. roll — a list
  10. object — an aim
  11. scale — size or range
  12. game — wild animals
  13. roll — a cake
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. game — a match
  20. rock — music
  21. object — a thing
  22. object — to protest
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. rush — hurry

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