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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. ball — a dance
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bass — the fish
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. file — a line of people
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a great time
  13. file — a tool
  14. drill — the tool
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bass — low music
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. can — a tin
  21. plane — a tool
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. drill — a practice
  24. drill — army training

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