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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. degree — temperature
  3. degree — an amount
  4. current — happening now
  5. can — a tin
  6. bear — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — electric
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. roll — a cake
  11. degree — from a university
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bear — the animal
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. roll — a list
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. mine — for digging
  21. can — to be able to
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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