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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. file — a document
  3. toast — bread
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. squash — to crush
  7. file — a line of people
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. pitch — completely
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. file — a tool
  17. squash — the sport
  18. rock — music
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — a stone

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