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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: scale · arm · jam · fine · bass · bound · charge · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. fine — all right
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bound — certain
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. fine — high quality
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. charge — electricity
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — in music
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bass — low music
  14. charge — in control
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bass — the fish
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. charge — a price
  24. arm — a part of something

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