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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
468
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: wax · current · scale · chip · fine · file · fall · temple

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. chip — for betting
  4. fall — the season
  5. fine — all right
  6. current — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. scale — in music
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. file — a line of people
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. scale — size or range
  13. current — electric
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. wax — to grow
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fall — to drop
  21. chip — to eat
  22. fall — to drop
  23. file — a tool
  24. chip — in a computer

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