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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: scale · pitcher · saw · cap · pop · branch · mouse · can

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. cap — a hat
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. can — to be able to
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. branch — a division
  8. cap — of ice
  9. can — a tin
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. scale — in music
  14. pop — soda
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. cap — a lid
  18. pop — music
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pop — to visit
  23. can — a tin
  24. branch — of a bank

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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