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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · leaves · wound · stand · current · plane · bowl · calf

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. plane — a tool
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — in music
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. current — happening now
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. wound — an injury
  15. current — electric
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. current — of water
  18. wound — an injury
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. scale — size or range
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. stand — to bear
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. calf — a young animal

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