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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.

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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: stem · roll · scale · bass · toast · perch · ball · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bass — the fish
  4. toast — bread
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. ball — a great time
  7. roll — a list
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. scale — in music
  10. perch — the fish
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bore — to tire
  15. scale — size or range
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bass — low music
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. stem — to come from

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