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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 was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. file — a tool
  4. file — a line of people
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. chair — a leader
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. track — a song
  14. file — a document
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. track — a path
  21. track — to keep track
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mouse — the animal

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