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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: face · bank · file · stick · pitcher · staff · plane · safe

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. plane — a tool
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. face — to point toward
  6. file — a tool
  7. face — part of the head
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. bank — of a river
  10. file — a line of people
  11. bank — for money
  12. face — to confront
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. staff — employees
  16. bank — for money
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. file — a document
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. staff — employees

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