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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: lie · scale · rock · bank · fine · current · land · chest

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. chest — a box
  4. land — a country
  5. current — electric
  6. current — happening now
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bank — of a river
  9. rock — a stone
  10. chest — of your body
  11. fine — all right
  12. scale — size or range
  13. land — ground
  14. current — of water
  15. bank — for money
  16. chest — of your body
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. land — to come down
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. lie — to recline
  22. scale — in music
  23. rock — music
  24. lie — an untruth

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