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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: scale · bass · can · dip · arm · fine · object · band

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. object — an aim
  3. can — to be able to
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. band — a music group
  6. scale — in music
  7. dip — to sink
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. fine — all right
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bass — low music
  16. object — a thing
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bass — the fish
  20. band — a ring
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. can — a tin
  23. object — to protest
  24. arm — part of the body

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