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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: rush · saw · suit · branch · patient · current · tube · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. tube — the underground
  3. tube — a container
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. current — happening now
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. suit — in cards
  9. scale — size or range
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. current — electric
  12. saw — the tool
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. branch — a division
  15. saw — the tool
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rush — hurry
  18. current — of water
  19. suit — clothes
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. scale — in music
  24. tube — in a tire

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