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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: wake · nail · pass · safe · craft · bank · mine · current

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. craft — a skill
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. mine — for digging
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. current — of water
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. current — happening now
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bank — of a river
  17. craft — boats
  18. bank — for money
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. current — electric
  23. bank — for money
  24. wake — a trail

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