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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: can · ball · key · firm · scale · lean · suit · degree

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. lean — to bend
  3. scale — size or range
  4. scale — in music
  5. firm — steady
  6. key — the most important part
  7. ball — a dance
  8. key — in music
  9. suit — in cards
  10. firm — a company
  11. firm — decided
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. lean — thin
  14. degree — from a university
  15. can — a tin
  16. degree — temperature
  17. suit — to fit
  18. ball — a great time
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — clothes
  21. degree — an amount
  22. can — to be able to
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. key — for a lock

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