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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.

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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: tube · can · ruler · safe · hide · kid · arm · file

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. kid — child
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. file — a tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. tube — a container
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. tube — the underground
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. file — a line of people
  20. kid — to tease
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. can — a tin
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. hide — animal skin

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