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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
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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: key · clip · cabinet · season · saw · drill · file · safe

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. file — a line of people
  5. clip — for paper
  6. season — in sport
  7. file — a tool
  8. season — of the year
  9. saw — the tool
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. key — the most important part
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. drill — army training
  15. clip — to cut
  16. clip — a video
  17. drill — the tool
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. key — for a lock
  20. file — a document
  21. drill — a practice
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — out of danger
  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