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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.

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: scale · fan · bark · wave · rest · charge · drill · key

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. charge — a price
  4. charge — electricity
  5. key — the most important part
  6. bark — to shout
  7. charge — in control
  8. rest — a break
  9. scale — size or range
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rest — what's left
  12. drill — army training
  13. key — for a lock
  14. drill — the tool
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. drill — a practice
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. rest — what's left
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. key — in music

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