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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: stand · scale · current · lean · deal · foot · rush · last

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. last — to go on
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. scale — in music
  7. current — happening now
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. last — finally
  10. last — final
  11. deal — to handle
  12. lean — thin
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. foot — a measure
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. current — of water
  19. current — electric
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lean — to bend
  22. stand — to bear
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. deal — an agreement

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