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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: temple · current · scale · spring · lean · board · toast · object

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. board — to get on
  4. current — electric
  5. scale — size or range
  6. spring — a coil
  7. toast — bread
  8. current — happening now
  9. board — a committee
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. object — to protest
  13. current — of water
  14. lean — to bend
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. object — an aim
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. object — a thing
  21. spring — the season
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. spring — of water
  24. lean — thin

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