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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 116 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 · mine · suit · cue · safe · key · swing · bound

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. suit — clothes
  4. key — in music
  5. mine — for digging
  6. current — of water
  7. suit — to fit
  8. swing — to play on
  9. swing — in golf
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. current — happening now
  12. cue — a hint
  13. current — electric
  14. bound — tied together
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. suit — in cards
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bound — obliged
  19. key — the most important part
  20. cue — for pool
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. bound — certain
  23. swing — music
  24. key — for a lock

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