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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: file · fine · rush · key · bound · scale · fall · season

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. scale — in music
  3. season — of the year
  4. scale — size or range
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. file — a tool
  8. bound — certain
  9. fall — to drop
  10. file — a line of people
  11. fine — high quality
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. season — in sport
  15. file — a document
  16. bound — tied together
  17. key — in music
  18. fine — all right
  19. key — for a lock
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fall — the season
  22. fall — to drop
  23. key — the most important part
  24. rush — hurry

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