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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 120 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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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: ruler · straw · stem · safe · bank · stand · pass · current

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. current — of water
  4. current — happening now
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bank — for money
  7. stem — to come from
  8. bank — for money
  9. stand — to bear
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. pass — a permit
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. current — electric
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bank — of a river
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stand — for spectators

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