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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. suit — in cards
  3. key — the most important part
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. key — in music
  6. plane — a tool
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. stock — shares
  10. hand — in cards
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. file — a tool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. lean — to bend
  17. suit — to fit
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. lean — thin
  20. file — a line of people
  21. hand — help
  22. stock — goods
  23. key — for a lock
  24. suit — clothes

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