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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 116 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: fine · present · file · craft · wax · key · bank · safe

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. present — a gift
  4. key — in music
  5. file — a document
  6. bank — for money
  7. present — the time now
  8. key — the most important part
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. fine — all right
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. present — there
  14. craft — boats
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. craft — a skill
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fine — high quality
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bank — of a river
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. file — a line of people
  23. file — a tool
  24. wax — in the ear

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