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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 116 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: safe · degree · band · rock · trunk · scale · deal · key

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. scale — in music
  3. deal — to handle
  4. rock — a stone
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. degree — from a university
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. key — the most important part
  10. degree — an amount
  11. band — a music group
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. band — a ring
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rock — music
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. degree — temperature

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