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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bound — tied together
  3. club — for golf
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. bound — certain
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. rest — what's left
  8. club — for dancing
  9. fine — all right
  10. file — a line of people
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. rest — a break
  13. club — a group
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. file — a tool
  16. fine — high quality
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. plane — a tool
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. bound — obliged
  22. staff — employees
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rest — what's left

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