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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. file — a tool
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. file — a line of people
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bass — low music
  13. swing — in golf
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. chip — for betting
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. bass — the fish
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. sharp — clever
  22. swing — to play on
  23. swing — music
  24. safe — out of danger

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