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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 116 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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. firm — decided
  3. current — electric
  4. shower — rain
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. shower — to wash
  7. snap — to click
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. plane — a tool
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. sharp — clever
  12. current — of water
  13. current — happening now
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. track — a song
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. track — to keep track
  21. firm — steady
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. track — a path
  24. firm — a company

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