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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. mug — a cup
  3. scale — in music
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. track — a song
  10. game — wild animals
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — of a river
  13. game — a match
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bank — for money
  16. mug — to rob
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. track — to keep track
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. stand — to bear
  21. track — a path
  22. mug — a face
  23. current — happening now
  24. mark — a grade

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