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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 120 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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  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 document
  2. pop — music
  3. perch — the fish
  4. fine — high quality
  5. mug — a cup
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mug — a face
  8. drill — a practice
  9. mark — a grade
  10. press — to push
  11. press — newspapers
  12. drill — the tool
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. pop — to visit
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mark — a trace
  18. pop — soda
  19. press — a publisher
  20. file — a line of people
  21. drill — army training
  22. fine — all right
  23. perch — for a bird
  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