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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
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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: jam · toast · wax · scale · pop · cabinet · perch · nail

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. wax — to grow
  6. toast — bread
  7. scale — in music
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. scale — size or range
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. perch — the fish
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. pop — music
  24. pop — to visit

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