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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. current — of water
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. file — a tool
  9. scale — size or range
  10. file — a document
  11. vault — a safe
  12. pass — a permit
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. scale — in music
  15. current — happening now
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. kick — in football
  24. current — electric

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