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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: pitcher · file · plane · temple · roll · march · content · safe

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. content — the amount
  5. file — a document
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. march — the month
  8. march — music
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. march — the month
  11. content — happy
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. plane — a tool
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. file — a line of people
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. file — a tool
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. roll — a cake
  24. roll — a list

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