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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 116 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: wound · current · scale · lash · deal · bank · mate · plane

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bank — for money
  4. mate — to breed
  5. current — electric
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. wound — an injury
  8. scale — in music
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. bank — for money
  13. mate — a friend
  14. scale — size or range
  15. plane — a tool
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bank — of a river
  18. deal — to handle
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. wound — an injury
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. current — happening now
  24. mate — a partner

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