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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.

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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 · staff · fall · scale · rash · tube · mouse · pitcher

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. scale — in music
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. fall — to drop
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. fall — the season
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rash — hasty
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. rash — a series
  12. staff — employees
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. pass — a permit
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — the underground
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fall — to drop
  20. staff — employees
  21. scale — size or range
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. mouse — the animal

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