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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 112 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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. file — a document
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. mate — a friend
  5. fine — high quality
  6. rest — what's left
  7. firm — steady
  8. fine — all right
  9. mate — to breed
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. firm — decided
  12. saw — the tool
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. saw — the tool
  17. firm — a company
  18. lean — thin
  19. mate — a partner
  20. file — a tool
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. file — a line of people

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