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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: toast · scale · season · rock · ruler · coach · ball · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. scale — size or range
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wax — to grow
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a dance
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. toast — bread
  13. season — of the year
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. rock — music
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. scale — in music
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. season — in sport
  24. rock — to move gently

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