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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. current — of water
  3. current — happening now
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. craft — a skill
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — a publisher
  9. craft — boats
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. tube — the underground
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. tube — a container
  17. deal — to handle
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. press — to push
  21. bulb — for light
  22. wake — a trail
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. current — electric

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