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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bass — the fish
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. file — a line of people
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. tube — a container
  10. current — happening now
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. current — electric
  14. rock — music
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. file — a document
  17. file — a tool
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. bass — low music
  20. toast — bread
  21. tube — the underground
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rock — a stone
  24. current — of water

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