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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: pop · saw · current · safe · cell · nail · wound · cabinet

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. pop — soda
  5. current — happening now
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wound — an injury
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. cell — in biology
  18. pop — to visit
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. pop — music
  21. cell — a phone
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wound — an injury
  24. current — of water

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