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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 · pass · racket · pit · rock · bulb · leaves · field

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. pit — a hole
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. scale — size or range
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. field — farmland
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. scale — in music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. field — for sport
  18. rock — music
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pit — in a race
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. field — a subject
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bulb — for light

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