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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 116 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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. present — there
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. present — the time now
  5. pop — soda
  6. club — a group
  7. suit — clothes
  8. present — a gift
  9. file — a tool
  10. court — for sport
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pop — to visit
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. suit — to fit
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. court — of a king
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. court — of law
  19. club — for golf
  20. file — a document
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. club — for dancing
  23. pop — music
  24. suit — in cards

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