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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 120 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: foot · fan · lean · pitch · ground · key · file · safe

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. ground — crushed
  9. lean — thin
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. ground — a position
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. pitch — completely
  16. key — the most important part
  17. ground — the earth
  18. lean — to bend
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. key — for a lock
  21. file — a line of people
  22. key — in music
  23. file — a tool
  24. safe — out of danger

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