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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: arm · mark · season · face · scale · squash · coach · drill

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. scale — size or range
  5. face — part of the head
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. face — to point toward
  8. mark — a trace
  9. drill — the tool
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. face — to confront
  12. drill — army training
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. drill — a practice
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. squash — to crush
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. mark — a grade
  21. season — of the year
  22. squash — the sport
  23. season — in sport
  24. mark — to pay attention

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