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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: bank · safe · row · current · jam · lie · rush · rash

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bank — for money
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. row — a line
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rash — a series
  9. lie — to recline
  10. current — electric
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. row — to paddle
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bank — for money
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. current — happening now
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bank — of a river
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. current — of water
  23. rush — hurry
  24. safe — out of danger

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