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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mine · pitch · roll · suit · scale · wax · fork · safe

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. fork — in a road
  4. pitch — completely
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. roll — a list
  7. suit — clothes
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. suit — in cards
  11. scale — size or range
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mine — for digging
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. roll — a cake
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. scale — in music

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