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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: content · pitcher · current · plane · board · file · scale · patient

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. file — a document
  3. scale — in music
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. content — the amount
  6. current — electric
  7. current — happening now
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. file — a tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. file — a line of people
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — to get on
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. plane — a tool
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. current — of water
  23. content — happy
  24. scale — size or range

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