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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: last · stand · scale · ruler · current · rush · fan · content

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. last — to go on
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. scale — in music
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. stand — to bear
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. current — happening now
  12. content — the amount
  13. scale — size or range
  14. last — finally
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. current — of water
  19. rush — hurry
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. last — final
  23. content — happy
  24. ruler — for measuring

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