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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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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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: pitcher · stand · bowl · scale · march · racket · bore · pass

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. scale — size or range
  3. march — the month
  4. bore — to tire
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. march — music
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. pass — a permit
  21. bore — to drill
  22. march — the month
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. stand — to bear

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