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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. file — a document
  3. fall — to drop
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mark — a trace
  9. suit — to fit
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. can — a tin
  13. mark — a grade
  14. file — a line of people
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rash — a series
  18. suit — in cards
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. file — a tool
  21. fall — the season
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fall — to drop

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