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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. rush — hurry
  3. tube — the underground
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. can — to be able to
  8. file — a tool
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. mark — a trace
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. staff — a stick
  15. tube — a container
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. staff — employees
  20. can — a tin
  21. mark — a grade
  22. file — a document
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. staff — employees

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