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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.

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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: key · hand · scale · deal · tube · cue · bore · nail

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. cue — for pool
  3. tube — a container
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bore — to drill
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. scale — in music
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. cue — a signal
  12. key — in music
  13. tube — the underground
  14. cue — a hint
  15. hand — in cards
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. deal — to handle
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. hand — help
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bore — to tire
  24. scale — size or range

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