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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: march · current · fan · bound · fine · ball · scale · suit

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. march — the month
  3. march — the month
  4. scale — size or range
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bound — certain
  9. fine — all right
  10. bound — obliged
  11. ball — a dance
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. current — electric
  15. bound — tied together
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. current — of water
  18. suit — clothes
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. suit — in cards
  21. scale — in music
  22. fine — high quality
  23. ball — a great time
  24. march — music

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