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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — to rob
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. file — a line of people
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. hand — help
  11. content — the amount
  12. charge — a price
  13. charge — in control
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — a division
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. content — happy
  19. rush — hurry
  20. charge — electricity
  21. file — a document
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. hand — in cards
  24. mug — a face

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