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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: safe · wave · arm · rush · perch · scale · cabinet · ball

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. perch — the fish
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. scale — in music
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. scale — size or range
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a dance
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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