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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 · field · lash · pitcher · suit · board · capital · hide

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. suit — to fit
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. field — for sport
  6. board — to get on
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. suit — clothes
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. field — a subject
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. capital — money
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. board — a committee
  16. scale — in music
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. capital — a city
  19. suit — in cards
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. field — farmland
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. capital — a big letter

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