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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. rash — hasty
  12. key — in music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. file — a line of people
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. key — for a lock
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. key — the most important part
  22. rash — a series
  23. file — a tool
  24. ruler — for measuring

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