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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.

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: last · roll · foot · bear · safe · tube · current · chair

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bear — the animal
  3. roll — a cake
  4. foot — a measure
  5. tube — a container
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. last — to go on
  10. current — electric
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. roll — a list
  13. bear — the animal
  14. last — finally
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. chair — a leader
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. current — happening now
  22. tube — the underground
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. last — final

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