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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. mug — to rob
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. file — a document
  7. mug — a face
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. track — a path
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. track — a song
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. staff — a stick
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. file — a tool
  20. file — a line of people
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — high quality
  23. staff — employees
  24. staff — employees

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