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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: rock · lean · plane · mark · perch · scale · rush · file

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. file — a document
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. file — a line of people
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mark — a grade
  8. lean — thin
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rush — hurry
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. file — a tool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. rock — music
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. scale — size or range
  19. scale — in music
  20. perch — the fish
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. perch — for a bird

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