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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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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. file — a document
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. rest — what's left
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. present — there
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — a signal
  11. rest — a break
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bass — low music
  14. cue — for pool
  15. file — a tool
  16. rest — what's left
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bass — the fish
  21. file — a line of people
  22. rush — hurry
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. present — a gift

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