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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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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: scale · bulb · rash · roll · season · mouse · branch · squash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bulb — for light
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. scale — size or range
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. season — of the year
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. rash — hasty
  14. roll — a list
  15. roll — a cake
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. squash — to crush
  19. season — in sport
  20. scale — in music
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. branch — a division
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. squash — the sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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