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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.

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: perch · key · tube · trunk · suit · safe · lash · file

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — in music
  4. tube — a container
  5. file — a document
  6. suit — in cards
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. tube — the underground
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. perch — the fish
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. suit — to fit
  18. file — a tool
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. file — a line of people
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. suit — clothes
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. perch — for a bird

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