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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: game · plane · arm · fine · safe · wax · pop · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. fine — all right
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pop — music
  12. game — wild animals
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. pop — to visit
  15. current — of water
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. game — a match
  18. plane — a tool
  19. current — electric
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. fine — high quality
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. pop — soda

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