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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: file · fine · bank · nail · safe · mate · wound · bore

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bank — for money
  3. file — a document
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bank — for money
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — high quality
  9. wound — an injury
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bank — of a river
  12. mate — a partner
  13. wound — an injury
  14. file — a line of people
  15. mate — a friend
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bore — to drill
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bore — to tire
  20. file — a tool
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. bore — gave birth

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