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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
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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: lash · safe · bowl · band · calf · staff · rock · current

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. band — a ring
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. band — a music group
  8. rock — a stone
  9. staff — employees
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. current — electric
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. current — happening now
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. current — of water
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. lash — an eyelash

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