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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: season · safe · scale · lean · content · suit · current · rest

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. season — in sport
  4. rest — a break
  5. content — the amount
  6. scale — in music
  7. rest — what's left
  8. current — happening now
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. lean — thin
  11. suit — in cards
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. scale — size or range
  14. suit — clothes
  15. current — of water
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. rest — what's left
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lean — to bend
  20. content — happy
  21. current — electric
  22. suit — to fit
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lean — to rest against

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