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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: saw · current · sharp · bank · file · safe · game · deal

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. game — a match
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. file — a document
  7. sharp — clever
  8. saw — the tool
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. file — a line of people
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. file — a tool
  17. deal — to handle
  18. current — electric
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. game — wild animals
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — of water
  23. current — happening now
  24. sharp — exactly

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