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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. charge — a price
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mug — to rob
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rest — what's left
  7. saw — the tool
  8. tear — to rip
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. tear — from crying
  11. lean — to bend
  12. foot — a measure
  13. charge — in control
  14. tear — from crying
  15. rest — a break
  16. file — a line of people
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mug — a cup
  20. lean — thin
  21. file — a tool
  22. charge — electricity
  23. mug — a face
  24. foot — the bottom

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