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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. file — a document
  3. track — a song
  4. root — the cause
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. track — to keep track
  8. saw — the tool
  9. can — a tin
  10. last — to go on
  11. track — a path
  12. last — final
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. file — a tool
  15. file — a line of people
  16. saw — the tool
  17. root — of a word
  18. scale — size or range
  19. last — finally
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. root — of a plant
  24. scale — for weighing

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