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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: can · rock · ground · racket · current · safe · lean · dip

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. lean — thin
  3. rock — music
  4. current — of water
  5. ground — the earth
  6. can — a tin
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ground — a position
  10. dip — to sink
  11. can — to be able to
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. current — electric
  15. current — happening now
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — a stone
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. ground — crushed

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