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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 · nail · net · band · safe · ruler · coach · content

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. current — happening now
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. net — in sport
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. net — for catching
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. current — electric
  14. net — after costs
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. band — a ring
  18. current — of water
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. content — the amount
  22. content — happy
  23. band — a music group
  24. safe — a strongbox

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