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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 116 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: leaves · saw · bulb · mine · content · key · wake · scale

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. key — in music
  3. scale — in music
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. key — for a lock
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. content — happy
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. saw — the tool
  15. content — the amount
  16. scale — size or range
  17. wake — a trail
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. mine — for digging
  21. bulb — for light
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. key — the most important part
  24. saw — the tool

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