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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.

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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: branch · rash · face · safe · rock · lean · file · sharp

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a line of people
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rock — a stone
  6. branch — a division
  7. lean — thin
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. face — to point toward
  11. lean — to bend
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. file — a document
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. face — to confront
  19. rash — a series
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. face — part of the head
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. rash — hasty

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