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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 120 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 · bay · lash · lean · mate · court · ruler · safe

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mate — a friend
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. current — of water
  7. lean — to bend
  8. court — for sport
  9. mate — to breed
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. court — of a king
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. current — happening now
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. mate — a partner
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lean — thin
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. court — of law
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. current — electric

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