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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 116 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: scale · staff · bay · charge · spell · pitcher · hand · bowl

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. staff — employees
  3. scale — size or range
  4. charge — in control
  5. hand — help
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. spell — a short time
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. scale — in music
  12. hand — in cards
  13. staff — employees
  14. charge — electricity
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. charge — a price
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — magic
  19. staff — a stick
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — a jug

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