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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: current · track · squash · bear · safe · tube · roll · board

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. track — a song
  3. bear — the animal
  4. current — of water
  5. bear — the animal
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. roll — a cake
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. board — a committee
  10. current — happening now
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. current — electric
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. board — to get on
  18. track — to keep track
  19. roll — a list
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — a container
  22. squash — to crush
  23. tube — the underground
  24. track — a path

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