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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 116 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: rash · scale · deal · key · cabinet · mate · ball · fan

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — to handle
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mate — a friend
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mate — a partner
  10. scale — size or range
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ball — a dance
  13. key — the most important part
  14. rash — a series
  15. scale — in music
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. key — in music
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. ball — a great time
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mate — to breed

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