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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bear · current · fine · object · squash · kid · court · safe

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. bear — the animal
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. court — of a king
  6. bear — the animal
  7. object — a thing
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. squash — to crush
  10. object — an aim
  11. squash — the sport
  12. object — to protest
  13. fine — high quality
  14. current — electric
  15. fine — all right
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. court — of law
  20. court — for sport
  21. current — happening now
  22. kid — child
  23. current — of water
  24. safe — out of danger

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