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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: rest · safe · patient · ball · rush · board · can · current

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. current — happening now
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — what's left
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. current — electric
  7. can — to be able to
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — a committee
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — of water
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rest — a break
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. ball — a dance
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. can — a tin
  24. board — to get on

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