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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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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: fork · cap · safe · roll · bay · current · tube · charge

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. current — electric
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. cap — a lid
  5. roll — a cake
  6. charge — in control
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. current — happening now
  9. fork — in a road
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. roll — a list
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. charge — electricity
  16. current — of water
  17. tube — a container
  18. charge — a price
  19. tube — the underground
  20. cap — of ice
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. cap — a hat
  24. tube — in a tire

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