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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — hurry
  4. current — of water
  5. present — there
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. current — electric
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. current — happening now
  10. firm — a company
  11. ball — a dance
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. staff — employees
  14. ball — a great time
  15. can — a tin
  16. firm — steady
  17. staff — a stick
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. can — a tin
  20. firm — decided
  21. present — a gift
  22. can — to be able to
  23. staff — employees
  24. present — the time now

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