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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: wave · leaves · safe · current · cap · fan · rock · can

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. current — happening now
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. can — a tin
  6. cap — a lid
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. cap — of ice
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rock — music
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. rock — a stone
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. can — a tin
  17. cap — a hat
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. current — electric
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. current — of water

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