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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
YesNo
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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 · fine · bowl · racket · charge · branch · vault · bass

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. fine — all right
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. branch — a division
  5. vault — a safe
  6. charge — a price
  7. scale — in music
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. charge — in control
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. fine — high quality
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. bass — low music
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. charge — electricity
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bass — the fish

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