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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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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: rash · scale · pound · pop · rock · wax · bound · pitch

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. wax — to grow
  3. bound — obliged
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. scale — size or range
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. pop — soda
  9. pop — music
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. pop — to visit
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rash — a series
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. pitch — completely
  19. rock — music
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. pound — a weight
  22. bound — certain
  23. rash — hasty
  24. bound — tied together

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