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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: scale · pitch · current · present · deal · bank · mug · court

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. current — happening now
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. mug — a face
  6. pitch — completely
  7. court — of law
  8. mug — to rob
  9. current — of water
  10. court — for sport
  11. present — there
  12. bank — for money
  13. present — the time now
  14. bank — for money
  15. scale — in music
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. present — a gift
  18. deal — to handle
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. scale — size or range
  21. current — electric
  22. mug — a cup
  23. court — of a king
  24. deal — an agreement

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