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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: tube · drill · safe · current · sharp · mouse · object · lean

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. object — an aim
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. tube — the underground
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. lean — to bend
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. tube — a container
  12. current — happening now
  13. sharp — clever
  14. drill — army training
  15. drill — a practice
  16. current — electric
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. current — of water
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. object — to protest
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. drill — the tool
  23. object — a thing
  24. lean — thin

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