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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 information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. track — a song
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. key — the most important part
  7. toast — bread
  8. rest — a break
  9. scale — size or range
  10. rest — what's left
  11. file — a tool
  12. key — for a lock
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. track — to keep track
  15. track — a path
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. rest — what's left
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. file — a line of people
  22. scale — in music
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. key — in music

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