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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: pass · dip · lean · rush · pop · ground · net · scale

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. lean — to bend
  3. pass — a permit
  4. scale — in music
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pop — to visit
  8. lean — thin
  9. pop — music
  10. scale — size or range
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. net — in sport
  13. ground — crushed
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. ground — a position
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. dip — to sink
  19. pop — soda
  20. ground — the earth
  21. rush — hurry
  22. net — after costs
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. scale — for weighing

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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