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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: rest · content · root · wound · mine · scale · firm · mug

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. rest — what's left
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. wound — an injury
  5. scale — size or range
  6. wound — an injury
  7. mine — for digging
  8. mug — a cup
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. root — of a word
  11. mug — a face
  12. firm — a company
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. root — of a plant
  15. mug — to rob
  16. content — happy
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. root — the cause
  19. rest — what's left
  20. firm — steady
  21. scale — in music
  22. content — the amount
  23. rest — a break
  24. firm — decided

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