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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. file — a document
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rest — what's left
  5. key — in music
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. key — the most important part
  8. object — an aim
  9. key — for a lock
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. squash — to crush
  12. file — a tool
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. object — a thing
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. rest — a break
  18. squash — the sport
  19. current — happening now
  20. rest — what's left
  21. file — a line of people
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. object — to protest
  24. rush — to hurry

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