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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: safe · file · spell · pass · tube · patient · chip · shower

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — the underground
  3. file — a document
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. file — a tool
  6. tube — a container
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spell — magic
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. chip — to eat
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. spell — a short time
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. chip — for betting
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. shower — to wash
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. shower — rain
  19. spell — letters
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. file — a line of people
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. pass — a permit

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