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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.

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: tube · pitcher · scale · trunk · key · fine · cabinet · hide

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. scale — in music
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. scale — size or range
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fine — high quality
  13. tube — the underground
  14. fine — all right
  15. key — the most important part
  16. tube — a container
  17. key — in music
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. trunk — of a tree

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