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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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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: perch · wake · scale · foot · bay · lash · key · toast

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. scale — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. key — in music
  8. perch — the fish
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. scale — size or range
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. wake — a trail
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. foot — a measure
  23. toast — bread
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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