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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
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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: plane · shower · scale · current · band · hand · press · saw

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. scale — in music
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. band — a music group
  7. shower — to wash
  8. band — a ring
  9. press — a publisher
  10. hand — in cards
  11. current — electric
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. hand — help
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. shower — rain
  18. scale — size or range
  19. current — happening now
  20. saw — the tool
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. press — to push
  23. plane — a tool
  24. current — of water

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