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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: march · mug · scale · drill · wake · key · cabinet · bound

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. scale — in music
  4. drill — a practice
  5. wake — a trail
  6. drill — the tool
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. mug — a face
  9. march — music
  10. march — the month
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bound — tied together
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — certain
  19. drill — army training
  20. scale — size or range
  21. key — the most important part
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. mug — to rob
  24. march — the month

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