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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 116 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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. rush — hurry
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. root — of a plant
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bank — of a river
  8. root — the cause
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bank — for money
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bank — for money
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. chip — for betting
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. file — a tool
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stock — shares
  20. rock — music
  21. file — a line of people
  22. stock — goods
  23. root — of a word
  24. chip — to eat

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