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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: safe · arm · board · mark · file · can · pit · ball

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. can — a tin
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. mark — a trace
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. file — a document
  7. mark — a grade
  8. ball — a dance
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. pit — a hole
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. file — a tool
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. can — to be able to
  16. ball — a great time
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — a committee
  19. can — a tin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. file — a line of people
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. board — to get on

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