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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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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: kid · arm · bank · safe · object · shower · toast · current

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. object — an aim
  4. current — of water
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. shower — rain
  8. bank — of a river
  9. shower — to wash
  10. current — happening now
  11. kid — to tease
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. bank — for money
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bank — for money
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. object — to protest
  21. toast — bread
  22. kid — child
  23. object — a thing
  24. current — electric

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