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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: mark · lean · current · safe · land · perch · mine · deal

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. current — happening now
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. mark — a trace
  9. land — ground
  10. current — of water
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. land — a country
  13. lean — thin
  14. mark — a grade
  15. current — electric
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. land — to come down
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lean — to bend
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — the fish
  24. deal — an agreement

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