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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: ruler · current · bay · staff · craft · rush · scale · foot

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. staff — employees
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. staff — a stick
  7. rush — hurry
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. current — electric
  12. staff — employees
  13. craft — a skill
  14. foot — a measure
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. scale — in music
  22. current — of water
  23. craft — boats
  24. current — happening now

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