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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: rush · ball · stick · firm · deal · scale · pass · saw

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ball — a great time
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. firm — a company
  6. pass — a permit
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. firm — steady
  11. rush — hurry
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. ball — a dance
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. scale — in music
  20. firm — decided
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. scale — size or range
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. scale — for weighing

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