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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: fan · safe · current · track · prune · nail · stick · chip

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. chip — to eat
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. track — a path
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. prune — to trim
  8. current — happening now
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. current — electric
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. track — to keep track
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. chip — for betting
  19. track — a song
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. current — of water
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. prune — to trim
  24. safe — out of danger

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