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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 · mouse · rock · key · mine · board · rash · file

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. file — a document
  3. rash — hasty
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. board — a committee
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. key — the most important part
  11. rock — music
  12. key — in music
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. rash — a series
  15. key — for a lock
  16. file — a line of people
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. rock — a stone
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. board — to get on
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. file — a tool
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. safe — a strongbox

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