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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. pit — a hole
  4. key — for a lock
  5. field — a subject
  6. current — electric
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. current — happening now
  12. roll — a list
  13. pit — in a race
  14. current — of water
  15. file — a document
  16. field — farmland
  17. rest — a break
  18. field — for sport
  19. key — the most important part
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — what's left
  22. key — in music
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. file — a tool

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