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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: suit · bass · snap · toast · safe · bore · fan · current

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. bore — to tire
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bore — to drill
  5. current — happening now
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. current — electric
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. toast — bread
  13. suit — to fit
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. current — of water
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. suit — clothes
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — in cards

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