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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: suit · prune · scale · ball · field · stem · plane · current

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. scale — in music
  3. current — of water
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. ball — a dance
  7. field — a subject
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. current — electric
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. scale — size or range
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. plane — a tool
  16. suit — clothes
  17. prune — to trim
  18. current — happening now
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. stem — to come from
  21. field — farmland
  22. ball — a great time
  23. prune — to trim
  24. field — for sport

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