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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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. cue — for pool
  4. season — of the year
  5. can — a tin
  6. file — a tool
  7. sharp — clever
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. rock — music
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cue — a signal
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. chair — a leader
  20. can — a tin
  21. season — in sport
  22. file — a line of people
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. bowl — a football final

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