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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: chip · leaves · file · bore · stick · safe · saw · bulb

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. file — a tool
  3. bulb — for light
  4. file — a line of people
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. chip — to eat
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bulb — for light
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. saw — the tool
  18. chip — for betting
  19. file — a document
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bore — to tire
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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