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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: current · bear · kid · rush · coach · safe · stem · deal

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bear — the animal
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. current — electric
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. kid — child
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. deal — to handle
  17. stem — to come from
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bear — the animal
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. kid — to tease
  24. bear — to put up with

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