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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. staff — a stick
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. land — ground
  10. court — for sport
  11. court — of a king
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bound — tied together
  14. current — of water
  15. staff — employees
  16. bound — obliged
  17. land — a country
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. land — to come down
  21. staff — employees
  22. court — of law
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bound — certain

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