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

Word bank: trunk · cabinet · pass · bay · cell · safe · stick · file

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. pass — a permit
  3. cell — in biology
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. file — a document
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cell — a phone
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. file — a line of people
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. file — a tool
  24. bay — a horse colour

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