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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. current — happening now
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. current — of water
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. current — electric
  10. ball — a dance
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. ball — a great time
  16. branch — a division
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. pitcher — in baseball

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