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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.

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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: bore · stand · scale · toast · club · sharp · mug · object

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. mug — a cup
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. sharp — clever
  5. club — for golf
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. club — a group
  8. object — to protest
  9. club — for dancing
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mug — to rob
  13. object — a thing
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. scale — size or range
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bore — to drill
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. mug — a face
  20. bore — to tire
  21. toast — bread
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. stand — to bear
  24. object — an aim

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