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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: branch · roll · current · scale · bowl · mark · snap · suit

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. suit — to fit
  3. scale — in music
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. suit — clothes
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. roll — a list
  11. current — electric
  12. snap — to click
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. roll — a cake
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. mark — a trace
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. scale — size or range
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. mark — a grade
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. suit — in cards

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