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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: cue · safe · hide · can · straw · charge · bore · file

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. file — a document
  4. file — a line of people
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. charge — in control
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — to drill
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. can — a tin
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. can — a tin
  13. cue — a signal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cue — for pool
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cue — a hint
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. can — to be able to
  22. file — a tool
  23. charge — a price
  24. hide — animal skin

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