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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. tube — the underground
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. file — a line of people
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. drill — army training
  7. land — to come down
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. drill — the tool
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. current — electric
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. land — ground
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. file — a tool
  17. tube — a container
  18. stand — to bear
  19. land — a country
  20. current — happening now
  21. pass — a permit
  22. current — of water
  23. drill — a practice
  24. nail — on a finger

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