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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 116 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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pop — to visit
  4. pitch — completely
  5. shower — to wash
  6. saw — the tool
  7. shower — rain
  8. can — a tin
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. current — happening now
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pop — music
  13. current — electric
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. pop — soda
  17. file — a document
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — of water
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. file — a tool

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