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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lie · safe · sharp · toast · stand · file · kick · current

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. toast — bread
  4. sharp — clever
  5. file — a tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. current — electric
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. file — a line of people
  10. stand — to bear
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. kick — in football
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. current — happening now
  19. file — a document
  20. lie — to recline
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. safe — out of danger

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