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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 116 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.

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: key · cap · stick · drill · bowl · scale · object · pop

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. drill — army training
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. cap — of ice
  6. key — for a lock
  7. scale — size or range
  8. key — the most important part
  9. object — a thing
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. pop — to visit
  12. pop — music
  13. cap — a hat
  14. drill — the tool
  15. drill — a practice
  16. object — to protest
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. pop — soda
  19. key — in music
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. cap — a lid
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. bowl — a football final

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