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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: mate · pass · track · scale · file · safe · trunk · jam

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. mate — a friend
  4. file — a line of people
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. track — to keep track
  11. mate — a partner
  12. track — a song
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. scale — size or range
  16. file — a document
  17. track — a path
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. file — a tool
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. scale — in music

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