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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 116 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 · current · bound · track · shower · bank · rest · suit

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. suit — clothes
  3. current — of water
  4. suit — in cards
  5. scale — size or range
  6. shower — to wash
  7. bound — certain
  8. bank — for money
  9. track — a path
  10. track — to keep track
  11. current — happening now
  12. bank — of a river
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. bank — for money
  15. current — electric
  16. rest — what's left
  17. suit — to fit
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. rest — a break
  20. track — a song
  21. scale — in music
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bound — obliged

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