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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: arm · bound · safe · rock · roll · ground · cue · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. ground — crushed
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. current — electric
  5. bound — certain
  6. current — of water
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bound — tied together
  9. cue — for pool
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. cue — a hint
  13. ground — a position
  14. roll — a list
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bound — obliged
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. rock — music
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. rock — a stone
  22. cue — a signal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ground — the earth

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