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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. file — a document
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. stock — goods
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. file — a line of people
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mine — for digging
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. key — in music
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. file — a tool
  18. key — for a lock

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