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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.

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 · key · drill · scale · last · mug · ball · wave

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. key — in music
  3. drill — a practice
  4. drill — army training
  5. ball — a great time
  6. mug — a face
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. last — final
  9. scale — size or range
  10. mug — to rob
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. last — to go on
  14. mug — a cup
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. key — for a lock
  17. last — finally
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. drill — the tool
  20. scale — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ball — a dance
  24. wave — with your hand

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