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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: bass · hide · date · cabinet · bank · scale · shower · deal

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. deal — to handle
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bank — for money
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. shower — to wash
  9. bank — of a river
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bass — low music
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. shower — rain
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bank — for money
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. date — the fruit
  23. scale — size or range
  24. hide — animal skin

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