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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 · leaves · pitcher · coach · deal · content · cue · bay

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. scale — in music
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. content — happy
  14. cue — a hint
  15. deal — to handle
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cue — a signal
  24. content — the amount

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