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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 120 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: lean · dip · mark · coach · file · mate · fan · safe

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mate — a friend
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. dip — to sink
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. mate — to breed
  10. mark — a grade
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mark — a trace
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. file — a tool
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. lean — thin
  22. file — a line of people
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lean — to bend

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