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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.

Make a worksheet

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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. current — electric
  3. squash — to crush
  4. bound — obliged
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. bound — certain
  8. current — happening now
  9. bound — tied together
  10. current — of water
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. squash — the sport
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. net — for catching
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — for a computer

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