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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: current · coach · jam · wind · track · lash · safe · racket

  1. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. current — of water
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. track — a song
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. track — to keep track
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. current — happening now
  13. track — a path
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wind — moving air
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. current — electric

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