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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: can · lean · ball · kid · file · saw · safe · vault

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. file — a line of people
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. kid — child
  5. saw — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. ball — a dance
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a great time
  12. kid — to tease
  13. can — to be able to
  14. vault — a safe
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. file — a document
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. lean — thin
  20. saw — the tool
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. lean — to bend
  24. can — a tin

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