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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. file — a tool
  4. wound — an injury
  5. current — of water
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bass — low music
  8. mug — a face
  9. mug — a cup
  10. firm — decided
  11. current — electric
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. file — a line of people
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mug — to rob
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. firm — steady
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. current — happening now
  24. firm — a company

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