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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: ball · safe · bass · staff · current · bay · row · craft

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bass — the fish
  4. staff — employees
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. row — a line
  7. craft — a skill
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. bass — low music
  12. craft — boats
  13. current — electric
  14. ball — a dance
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. current — of water
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. current — happening now
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. row — to paddle
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bay — a horse colour

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