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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
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: leaves · chip · bass · content · fine · hand · rash · scale

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. scale — size or range
  4. fine — all right
  5. scale — in music
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rash — a series
  9. content — the amount
  10. fine — high quality
  11. chip — for betting
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. content — happy
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bass — the fish
  17. hand — help
  18. chip — to eat
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. bass — low music
  22. rash — hasty
  23. hand — in cards
  24. leaves — lets stay

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