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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
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: mug · squash · ground · ball · cue · current · perch · scale

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. scale — in music
  3. current — happening now
  4. mug — to rob
  5. current — electric
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. mug — a face
  10. perch — the fish
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — for pool
  13. squash — to crush
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. ground — a position
  16. scale — size or range
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. ground — the earth
  19. mug — a cup
  20. ball — a great time
  21. squash — the sport
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ground — crushed
  24. current — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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