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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. pit — in a race
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. pit — a hole
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. cap — a lid
  10. track — a song
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. ball — a dance
  13. file — a line of people
  14. mark — a trace
  15. ball — a great time
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. file — a tool
  20. cap — of ice
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. cap — a hat
  23. track — a path
  24. track — to keep track

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