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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: wind · jam · current · dip · suit · field · safe · date

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. field — a subject
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. date — the fruit
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. dip — to sink
  11. current — happening now
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. field — farmland
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. field — for sport
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wind — moving air
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — electric
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. current — of water
  23. wind — moving air
  24. jam — a tight spot

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