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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. foot — a measure
  7. track — to keep track
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. file — a tool
  11. firm — decided
  12. file — a line of people
  13. board — a committee
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. track — a path
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. firm — steady
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. track — a song
  22. firm — a company
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. board — to get on

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