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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. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. land — ground
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. land — a country
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. race — humankind
  7. current — of water
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. race — the arms race
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. current — electric
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. current — happening now
  15. land — to come down
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. race — a contest
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. perch — the fish

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