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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: track · scale · craft · net · dip · bay · rash · rock

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. track — to keep track
  3. rash — a series
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. track — a path
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — size or range
  8. net — after costs
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. craft — a skill
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rock — music
  14. dip — to sink
  15. track — a song
  16. craft — boats
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. rock — a stone
  20. net — for catching
  21. net — in sport
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. rock — to move gently

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