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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. file — a document
  5. file — a line of people
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. suit — clothes
  8. toast — bread
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rest — what's left
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. roll — a cake
  14. rest — what's left
  15. suit — to fit
  16. file — a tool
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. rest — a break
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. roll — a list

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