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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 · key · mug · tube · bank · row · content · bass

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. key — for a lock
  3. bank — of a river
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. scale — in music
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. key — in music
  10. bank — for money
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bass — the fish
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. mug — to rob
  15. content — happy
  16. bass — low music
  17. scale — size or range
  18. content — the amount
  19. tube — a container
  20. bank — for money
  21. tube — the underground
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. mug — a face
  24. row — a line

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