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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: content · file · key · safe · craft · bay · mouse · spell

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a line of people
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. craft — boats
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. key — for a lock
  7. content — the amount
  8. spell — a short time
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. key — the most important part
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. craft — a skill
  14. key — in music
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spell — magic
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. spell — letters
  19. content — happy
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  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