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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: wake · current · face · safe · pitcher · lash · jam · file

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. file — a document
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. face — part of the head
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. file — a line of people
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. face — to confront
  11. current — happening now
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. current — of water
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. face — to point toward
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. current — electric
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. wake — a trail
  24. file — a tool

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