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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: band · club · mark · racket · mouse · prune · scale · bulb

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. bulb — for light
  3. band — a ring
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. scale — in music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mark — a trace
  9. scale — size or range
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. prune — to trim
  15. band — a music group
  16. club — for golf
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. club — for dancing
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bulb — for light
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. club — a group

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