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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: perch · rest · shower · scale · safe · rush · current · stem

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. perch — the fish
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. rest — what's left
  6. shower — rain
  7. stem — to come from
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. current — of water
  11. shower — to wash
  12. current — electric
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. rest — what's left
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rest — a break
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. scale — size or range
  20. rush — hurry
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. scale — in music
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. scale — for weighing

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