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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: safe · bark · current · board · content · fan · tube · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bark — to shout
  4. tube — a container
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. current — of water
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. tube — the underground
  12. current — electric
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. board — to get on
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. current — happening now
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. content — happy
  22. content — the amount
  23. board — a committee
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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