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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.

Make a worksheet

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: arm · file · stock · safe · bulb · branch · fork · scale

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. fork — in a road
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. branch — a division
  11. bulb — for light
  12. file — a tool
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. stock — shares
  16. scale — in music
  17. scale — size or range
  18. file — a line of people
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. stock — goods
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bulb — for light

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