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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.

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: chest · leaves · can · rush · lean · scale · current · trunk

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. scale — size or range
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. current — of water
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. scale — in music
  10. can — to be able to
  11. rush — hurry
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. chest — a box
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. chest — of your body
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. chest — of your body
  20. lean — to bend
  21. lean — thin
  22. current — happening now
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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