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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: safe · coach · kid · plane · field · current · scale · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — happening now
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. kid — to tease
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. rest — a break
  10. scale — in music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. field — for sport
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rest — what's left
  16. field — farmland
  17. field — a subject
  18. current — of water
  19. scale — size or range
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — electric
  22. kid — child
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. scale — for weighing

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