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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.

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: current · pitcher · board · drill · temple · fork · nail · safe

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. current — happening now
  5. drill — a practice
  6. current — electric
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. current — of water
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. drill — the tool
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — to get on
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. drill — army training

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