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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. file — a tool
  4. spring — a coil
  5. bank — for money
  6. spring — the season
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. mate — to breed
  9. charge — electricity
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bank — of a river
  13. drill — a practice
  14. drill — the tool
  15. drill — army training
  16. mate — a friend
  17. charge — a price
  18. mate — a partner
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. charge — in control
  21. bank — for money
  22. file — a document
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. spring — of water

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