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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: season · racket · fine · deal · scale · stick · kick · key

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  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. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. key — in music
  4. scale — size or range
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. fine — all right
  10. kick — in football
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. key — for a lock
  14. season — of the year
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. scale — in music
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. deal — to handle
  22. fine — high quality
  23. season — in sport
  24. scale — for weighing

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