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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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. can — a tin
  4. current — of water
  5. roll — a cake
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bear — the animal
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. current — electric
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. file — a document
  14. suit — to fit
  15. file — a line of people
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. file — a tool
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. roll — a list
  22. can — to be able to
  23. current — happening now
  24. bear — the animal

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