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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.

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: toast · temple · root · deal · scale · bark · ball · rush

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. scale — in music
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. scale — size or range
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bark — to shout
  17. toast — bread
  18. rush — hurry
  19. root — of a word
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. temple — a place of worship

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