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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: dip · pitcher · ground · fan · rush · rock · scale · pop

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pop — music
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pop — soda
  8. pop — to visit
  9. scale — in music
  10. ground — a position
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. rock — a stone
  14. ground — the earth
  15. dip — to sink
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rock — music
  21. ground — crushed
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. rush — hurry

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