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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: fine · wind · current · safe · charge · bowl · mine · spring

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. current — happening now
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. charge — electricity
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. wind — moving air
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. charge — in control
  12. spring — of water
  13. mine — for digging
  14. current — electric
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wind — moving air
  17. spring — a coil
  18. current — of water
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. charge — a price
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. spring — the season
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bowl — a dish

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