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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: fan · safe · rest · file · row · rush · pop · key

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. row — to paddle
  3. file — a tool
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pop — music
  7. file — a line of people
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. rest — what's left
  15. row — a line
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. key — for a lock
  18. pop — to visit
  19. rest — a break
  20. key — the most important part
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rush — hurry
  23. file — a document
  24. pop — soda

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