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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
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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: mug · scale · stick · can · court · mate · nail · bay

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. scale — in music
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. court — of law
  9. mug — a cup
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mug — a face
  12. court — for sport
  13. mate — a friend
  14. scale — size or range
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. mug — to rob
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mate — to breed
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mate — a partner
  24. court — of a king

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