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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pass · scale · race · cabinet · bay · staff · court · pitcher

  1. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. scale — size or range
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. court — of law
  5. staff — a stick
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. staff — employees
  9. court — for sport
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. scale — in music
  14. court — of a king
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. race — the arms race
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. race — humankind
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. staff — employees
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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