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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.

Make a worksheet

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: suit · racket · scale · mine · bass · mouse · lean · wind

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. suit — in cards
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mine — for digging
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. suit — to fit
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. scale — size or range
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. wind — moving air
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. wind — moving air
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. lean — thin
  24. lean — to bend

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