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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 120 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: mouse · bay · wax · wave · rock · scale · bound · foot

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. bound — tied together
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. foot — a measure
  13. bound — obliged
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. rock — a stone
  21. scale — in music
  22. rock — music
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. bound — certain

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