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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: scale · bark · last · hide · current · file · cap · nail

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. file — a line of people
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. last — final
  6. current — of water
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. scale — size or range
  9. current — happening now
  10. bark — to shout
  11. cap — of ice
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. last — finally
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. file — a document
  16. last — to go on
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. cap — a lid
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. current — electric
  21. cap — a hat
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. file — a tool
  24. hide — to keep secret

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