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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 · mug · spring · file · safe · rock · last · wave

  1. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a line of people
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. spring — of water
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — to eat
  9. last — to go on
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mug — a face
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. rock — music
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. mug — a cup
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mug — to rob
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. spring — the season
  21. last — finally
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. file — a document
  24. spring — a coil

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