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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. current — happening now
  7. stock — shares
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. current — electric
  10. field — for sport
  11. press — to push
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. press — newspapers
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. field — farmland
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. field — a subject
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. press — a publisher
  21. stock — goods
  22. current — of water
  23. roll — a cake
  24. roll — a list

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