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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.

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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: object · branch · suit · safe · bat · can · file · sharp

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. suit — in cards
  4. can — a tin
  5. suit — to fit
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. object — to protest
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. file — a document
  12. sharp — clever
  13. branch — a division
  14. can — a tin
  15. bat — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. file — a tool
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. can — to be able to
  21. file — a line of people
  22. suit — clothes
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. object — a thing

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