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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: cap · temple · degree · last · current · plane · scale · leaves

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. cap — a lid
  3. current — of water
  4. plane — a tool
  5. last — to go on
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. last — final
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. current — electric
  12. scale — size or range
  13. degree — temperature
  14. last — finally
  15. cap — of ice
  16. degree — an amount
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. current — happening now
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. degree — from a university
  22. cap — a hat
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. plane — an aircraft

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