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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. pop — soda
  5. pop — to visit
  6. mark — a grade
  7. file — a document
  8. club — for dancing
  9. pit — a hole
  10. club — a group
  11. can — to be able to
  12. board — a committee
  13. bore — to tire
  14. board — to get on
  15. bore — to drill
  16. pop — music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. club — for golf
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. file — a tool
  22. can — a tin
  23. pit — in a race
  24. can — a tin

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