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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: sharp · rock · chair · fan · current · safe · ball · mug

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mug — a face
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rock — music
  11. current — happening now
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. chair — a leader
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. mug — to rob
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mug — a cup
  18. current — of water
  19. current — electric
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. chair — a professorship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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