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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.

Make a worksheet

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: vault · sharp · current · land · ruler · mouse · safe · rock

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. sharp — clever
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. current — electric
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. current — happening now
  10. rock — music
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. rock — a stone
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. land — ground
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. land — to come down
  20. vault — a safe
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. land — a country
  24. current — of water

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