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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
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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: rock · can · scale · ball · key · chair · foot · content

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. chair — a leader
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. ball — a great time
  5. key — the most important part
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — a measure
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. ball — a dance
  10. scale — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. can — a tin
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. can — a tin
  15. key — in music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. content — happy
  19. rock — music
  20. content — the amount
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. scale — size or range
  23. can — to be able to
  24. foot — part of the body

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