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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 · fine · safe · board · branch · roll · current · toast

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fine — all right
  5. roll — a list
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. toast — bread
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. board — a committee
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. current — happening now
  17. board — to get on
  18. roll — a cake
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. fine — high quality
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. current — electric
  23. branch — a division
  24. roll — on a roll

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