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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.

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: racket · file · leaves · bowl · sharp · march · safe · lean

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. file — a tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. lean — thin
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. file — a line of people
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. march — music
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. march — the month
  18. file — a document
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. lean — to bend
  23. march — the month
  24. safe — a strongbox

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