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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: bay · racket · pass · safe · bound · wound · scale · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  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. current — happening now
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. scale — size or range
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. scale — in music
  12. bound — certain
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. current — electric
  17. bound — tied together
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. wound — an injury
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wound — an injury
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. scale — for weighing
  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