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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: hide · pop · rush · safe · current · spell · mate · bore

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. spell — magic
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. current — electric
  8. pop — music
  9. bore — to tire
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mate — a friend
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pop — to visit
  16. bore — to drill
  17. spell — letters
  18. pop — soda
  19. mate — a partner
  20. current — of water
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. spell — a short time
  24. mate — to breed

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