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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 120 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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  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. board — a flat piece
  3. file — a tool
  4. scale — size or range
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. fine — high quality
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. root — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. bear — the animal
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bear — the animal
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. root — of a word
  16. fine — all right
  17. scale — in music
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. board — a committee
  20. file — a line of people
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. board — to get on
  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