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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: staff · sharp · safe · file · object · bear · bay · pit

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. file — a line of people
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pit — a hole
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pit — in a race
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. object — an aim
  12. object — to protest
  13. staff — employees
  14. file — a document
  15. bear — the animal
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. staff — a stick
  20. file — a tool
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. sharp — clever
  24. object — a thing

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