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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: saw · prune · key · scale · cabinet · bore · suit · rock

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. rock — music
  3. scale — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. scale — size or range
  6. bore — to drill
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bore — to tire
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. suit — in cards
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. suit — clothes
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rock — a stone
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. suit — to fit

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