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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.

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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: stand · fan · wax · current · can · ball · bowl · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. scale — in music
  4. wax — to grow
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. current — electric
  7. can — a tin
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. can — to be able to
  13. current — of water
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. ball — a dance
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — happening now
  20. stand — to bear
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bowl — a dish

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