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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
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: mine · scale · ball · march · safe · present · mouse · jam

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. present — the time now
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. march — music
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. scale — size or range
  12. present — there
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. present — a gift
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. march — the month
  21. mine — for digging
  22. march — the month
  23. scale — in music
  24. mouse — for a computer

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