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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. file — a tool
  4. season — in sport
  5. board — to get on
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. season — of the year
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — all right
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. prune — to trim
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. board — a committee
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fine — high quality
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. file — a line of people
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. prune — to trim

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