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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: scale · foot · fan · bulb · swing · pass · branch · bay

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. swing — to play on
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. branch — a division
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. scale — size or range
  11. pass — a permit
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. swing — in golf
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. foot — a measure
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. scale — in music
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  24. swing — music

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