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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.

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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 · safe · stand · pound · scale · charge · snap · toast

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. snap — to click
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. current — of water
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. scale — in music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. scale — size or range
  12. current — happening now
  13. pound — a weight
  14. charge — in control
  15. toast — bread
  16. current — electric
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. toast — the most admired

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