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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 120 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: mug · mine · perch · net · scale · root · key · wave

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. net — in sport
  4. scale — size or range
  5. root — the cause
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mug — to rob
  8. root — of a plant
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. mug — a cup
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. net — for catching
  14. key — the most important part
  15. root — of a word
  16. scale — in music
  17. mug — a face
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. net — after costs
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — the fish
  24. key — in music

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