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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: scale · track · mate · ball · rock · staff · field · mug

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — in music
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a face
  6. ball — a dance
  7. track — a song
  8. track — a path
  9. ball — a great time
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. field — a subject
  13. rock — music
  14. field — for sport
  15. rock — a stone
  16. track — to keep track
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. mate — a partner
  19. field — farmland
  20. mug — a cup
  21. staff — employees
  22. mate — a friend
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. rock — to move gently

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