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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 120 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: cabinet · safe · pop · file · trunk · mine · fan · ruler

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. mine — for digging
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. pop — to visit
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. pop — music
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pop — soda
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. cabinet — ministers

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