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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.

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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: foot · rock · rash · staff · nail · prune · scale · roll

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. staff — a stick
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. foot — a measure
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. scale — size or range
  8. rash — a series
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — employees
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — to trim
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rock — music
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. scale — in music
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. roll — a cake
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rash — hasty

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