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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: safe · bear · ball · key · land · capital · current · stick

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. land — a country
  2. current — electric
  3. capital — money
  4. land — ground
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. land — to come down
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. current — of water
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. current — happening now
  15. key — in music
  16. ball — a dance
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bear — the animal
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. ball — a great time
  21. key — the most important part
  22. capital — a city
  23. safe — out of danger
  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