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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lash · jam · drill · bound · toast · current · safe · content

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. content — the amount
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. current — electric
  8. bound — tied together
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. drill — the tool
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bound — obliged
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. drill — army training
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. content — happy
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. drill — a practice
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bound — certain

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