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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: staff · branch · current · lash · safe · stand · track · mouse

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. current — of water
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. track — to keep track
  12. staff — a stick
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. stand — to bear
  15. track — a path
  16. branch — a division
  17. track — a song
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — employees
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lash — an eyelash
  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