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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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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: press · capital · rock · cue · scale · land · key · bank

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. key — the most important part
  4. capital — money
  5. land — ground
  6. rock — music
  7. key — in music
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — of a river
  10. capital — a big letter
  11. bank — for money
  12. land — a country
  13. capital — a city
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. scale — size or range
  16. cue — a hint
  17. rock — a stone
  18. cue — a signal
  19. press — to push
  20. key — for a lock
  21. cue — for pool
  22. scale — in music
  23. land — to come down
  24. press — a publisher

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