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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: sharp · safe · face · patient · bound · deal · current · rock

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. current — of water
  5. current — electric
  6. rock — music
  7. face — part of the head
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. current — happening now
  11. face — to point toward
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. deal — to handle
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bound — obliged
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bound — certain
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. sharp — clever
  20. rock — a stone
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. face — to confront
  24. sharp — exactly

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