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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: safe · current · shower · can · pop · key · staff · ground

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — happening now
  3. key — the most important part
  4. pop — music
  5. ground — a position
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. shower — to wash
  9. current — of water
  10. staff — employees
  11. pop — soda
  12. can — to be able to
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. ground — crushed
  15. ground — the earth
  16. pop — to visit
  17. key — in music
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. staff — a stick
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. staff — employees
  23. shower — rain
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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