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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 116 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.

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 · branch · mouse · kid · safe · hide · cue · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. current — electric
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. cue — for pool
  8. kid — child
  9. cue — a hint
  10. branch — a division
  11. kid — to tease
  12. current — happening now
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fine — all right
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fine — high quality
  23. current — of water
  24. mouse — the animal

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