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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 116 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: scale · calf · bay · rash · leaves · fall · mug · band

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. mug — to rob
  4. scale — in music
  5. band — a ring
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. scale — size or range
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. fall — to drop
  12. mug — a face
  13. fall — the season
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. fall — to drop
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — a series
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. band — a music group

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