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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. capital — a city
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — a stone
  5. staff — employees
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — for money
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. current — electric
  11. current — happening now
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. staff — a stick
  14. capital — money
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. current — of water
  19. staff — employees
  20. can — a tin
  21. rock — music
  22. bank — of a river
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. rock — to move gently

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