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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: bay · safe · staff · lash · dip · wound · current · pit

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. dip — to sink
  3. current — happening now
  4. staff — employees
  5. current — of water
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. staff — a stick
  8. wound — an injury
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. pit — a hole
  12. staff — employees
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. wound — an injury
  19. pit — in a race
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. safe — a strongbox

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