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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 120 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: fine · spell · mate · bass · scale · staff · spring · mark

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. mark — a grade
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spring — a coil
  6. mark — a trace
  7. spell — letters
  8. staff — a stick
  9. bass — low music
  10. spring — the season
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mate — a partner
  13. scale — in music
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. staff — employees
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. spell — magic
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bass — the fish
  20. mate — to breed
  21. staff — employees
  22. spring — of water
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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