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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 · charge · drill · key · field · bear · ball · bay

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. drill — army training
  6. key — in music
  7. field — a subject
  8. scale — in music
  9. field — farmland
  10. ball — a great time
  11. drill — the tool
  12. scale — size or range
  13. charge — a price
  14. bear — the animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. charge — in control
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bear — the animal
  22. ball — a dance
  23. drill — a practice
  24. field — for sport

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