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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
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: hand · vault · stem · safe · toast · mouse · current · firm

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. current — happening now
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. firm — a company
  9. hand — help
  10. vault — a safe
  11. current — of water
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. firm — steady
  14. hand — in cards
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. stem — to come from
  17. current — electric
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. firm — decided
  23. toast — bread
  24. stem — a stem cell

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