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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: suit · hide · calf · rash · file · shower · degree · safe

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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. hide — to keep secret
  4. shower — rain
  5. degree — from a university
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. shower — to wash
  9. rash — hasty
  10. degree — an amount
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. suit — clothes
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. file — a tool
  18. suit — to fit
  19. degree — temperature
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rash — a series
  23. suit — in cards
  24. calf — of the leg

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