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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: toast · pound · cue · scale · can · row · bay · fall

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. fall — to drop
  3. pound — a weight
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. row — to paddle
  6. cue — a signal
  7. scale — in music
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. toast — bread
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. cue — a hint
  14. row — a line
  15. can — a tin
  16. fall — to drop
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. scale — size or range
  22. cue — for pool
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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