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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: pop · mouse · mark · pass · row · safe · pound · current

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. pop — soda
  4. current — electric
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. row — a line
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. current — of water
  11. mark — a grade
  12. pass — a permit
  13. current — happening now
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pop — to visit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pound — a weight
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. row — to paddle
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. pop — music
  24. safe — a strongbox

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