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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.

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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.

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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: safe · lash · file · dip · chair · bay · row · sharp

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. row — to paddle
  15. file — a line of people
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. dip — to sink
  20. chair — a leader
  21. row — a line
  22. file — a tool
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. chair — a professorship

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