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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
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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: bulb · scale · cue · key · firm · squash · arm · rock

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. cue — a signal
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. rock — music
  5. squash — the sport
  6. key — the most important part
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cue — a hint
  10. key — for a lock
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. squash — to crush
  13. rock — a stone
  14. firm — steady
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bulb — for light
  17. firm — a company
  18. scale — size or range
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. scale — in music
  24. firm — decided

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