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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 116 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 · ruler · suit · fan · file · game · snap · staff

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. file — a line of people
  6. suit — in cards
  7. staff — employees
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. snap — to click
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. file — a document
  14. suit — clothes
  15. game — a match
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. file — a tool
  18. suit — to fit
  19. game — wild animals
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. staff — a stick
  24. staff — employees

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