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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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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: object · deal · mine · roll · fine · racket · scale · saw

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. mine — for digging
  7. saw — the tool
  8. roll — a cake
  9. object — an aim
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. object — a thing
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. fine — high quality
  17. roll — a list
  18. scale — size or range
  19. object — to protest
  20. saw — the tool
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. scale — in music
  24. fine — all right

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