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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: scale · foot · fan · pit · ball · current · stand · track

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. track — a path
  3. scale — size or range
  4. track — to keep track
  5. current — of water
  6. pit — a hole
  7. current — electric
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ball — a great time
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. ball — a dance
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. scale — in music
  16. track — a song
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. current — happening now
  21. pit — in a race
  22. foot — a measure
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. stand — for spectators

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