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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. can — a tin
  4. mine — for digging
  5. branch — a division
  6. current — of water
  7. can — to be able to
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. current — happening now
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. date — the fruit
  13. can — a tin
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cue — a hint
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cue — for pool
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. cue — a signal

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