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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.

Make a worksheet

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: safe · saw · stand · current · date · toast · club · fine

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. current — happening now
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. current — electric
  5. toast — bread
  6. club — for golf
  7. club — for dancing
  8. fine — high quality
  9. club — a group
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. date — the fruit
  13. current — of water
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. saw — the tool
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. saw — the tool
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stand — to bear
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. fine — a penalty

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