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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: board · rock · current · ground · foot · mouse · scale · mark

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mark — a trace
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. board — to get on
  8. current — of water
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. foot — a measure
  11. current — happening now
  12. rock — a stone
  13. current — electric
  14. scale — in music
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ground — crushed
  18. mark — a grade
  19. ground — the earth
  20. scale — size or range
  21. board — a committee
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. rock — music
  24. ground — a position

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