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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 120 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: lie · season · object · scale · drill · mouse · rock · staff

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. scale — in music
  3. rock — music
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. scale — size or range
  6. season — of the year
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. rock — a stone
  9. object — an aim
  10. season — in sport
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. drill — army training
  13. staff — employees
  14. object — a thing
  15. staff — a stick
  16. staff — employees
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. object — to protest
  21. lie — to recline
  22. drill — a practice
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. lie — an untruth

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