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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: current · wax · squash · bound · cabinet · rash · rush · safe

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. squash — to crush
  4. current — of water
  5. rash — a series
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — tied together
  12. rush — hurry
  13. current — happening now
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rash — hasty
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. current — electric
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. wax — to grow
  24. bound — certain

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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