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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 116 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 · shower · band · safe · pitch · rush · bound · trunk

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. shower — rain
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — tied together
  8. current — of water
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. band — a ring
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. current — happening now
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. bound — obliged
  16. band — a music group
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. rush — hurry
  19. shower — to wash
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pitch — completely
  24. trunk — of a car

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