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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: sharp · file · cue · can · prune · arm · safe · rest

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. prune — to trim
  3. cue — for pool
  4. can — a tin
  5. rest — a break
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. rest — what's left
  8. file — a document
  9. rest — what's left
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. sharp — clever
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. file — a line of people
  15. can — to be able to
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. file — a tool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. prune — to trim
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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