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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 116 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: bound · mouse · plane · safe · board · current · wake · bark

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bound — certain
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. board — to get on
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. current — of water
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. plane — a tool
  11. current — electric
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. board — a committee
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. wake — a trail
  19. current — happening now
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. bark — to shout
  24. bound — tied together

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