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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. object — an aim
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bound — certain
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bound — tied together
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. shower — rain
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. object — to protest
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. current — happening now
  19. object — a thing
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. shower — to wash
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. nail — for a hammer

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