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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: suit · pop · current · safe · stock · mine · cell · track

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. pop — soda
  4. current — electric
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. track — a path
  7. current — happening now
  8. stock — shares
  9. suit — in cards
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. suit — clothes
  12. track — to keep track
  13. pop — to visit
  14. cell — in biology
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. suit — to fit
  17. mine — for digging
  18. cell — a phone
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. stock — goods
  21. current — of water
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. track — a song
  24. pop — music

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