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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 rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bound — certain
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mug — a cup
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bound — tied together
  12. prune — to trim
  13. mug — a face
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. file — a line of people
  17. bound — obliged
  18. file — a document
  19. mug — to rob
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. prune — to trim
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. leaves — lets stay

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