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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.

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: current · safe · rash · nail · mouse · march · key · racket

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. march — the month
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. key — for a lock
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rash — a series
  14. march — music
  15. key — the most important part
  16. current — happening now
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. current — of water
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. march — the month
  22. key — in music
  23. current — electric
  24. mouse — for a computer

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