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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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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: staff · safe · face · rush · calf · file · ball · lean

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — a stick
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. ball — a great time
  7. file — a document
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lean — thin
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. face — to point toward
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — hurry
  16. staff — employees
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. file — a line of people
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lean — to bend
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. face — to confront
  23. ball — a dance
  24. file — a tool

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