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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: scale · rule · current · firm · foot · rest · rash · perch

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rest — what's left
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. firm — decided
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rule — government
  11. current — happening now
  12. rule — a law
  13. current — electric
  14. firm — steady
  15. current — of water
  16. scale — size or range
  17. foot — a measure
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rash — a series
  20. rest — a break
  21. scale — in music
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. firm — a company
  24. foot — part of the body

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