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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.

Make a worksheet

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: file · toast · cue · scale · current · rest · rush · mate

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. rest — what's left
  3. cue — a signal
  4. rush — hurry
  5. mate — to breed
  6. current — electric
  7. file — a document
  8. toast — bread
  9. file — a tool
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mate — a friend
  12. cue — a hint
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. scale — in music
  15. cue — for pool
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. scale — size or range
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mate — a partner
  23. rest — a break
  24. rest — what's left

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