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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: bear · file · vault · current · rash · pit · mouse · safe

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. rash — hasty
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. current — of water
  8. pit — a hole
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. file — a line of people
  11. bear — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pit — in a race
  14. file — a document
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. current — electric
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. rash — a series
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. file — a tool
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. vault — a safe

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