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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: current · fine · safe · jam · can · sharp · pop · bear

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. pop — soda
  3. current — happening now
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. sharp — clever
  6. fine — high quality
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pop — music
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. can — a tin
  12. current — of water
  13. pop — to visit
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. can — a tin
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. current — electric
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bear — the animal
  24. sharp — exactly

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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