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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. object — a thing
  3. can — a tin
  4. file — a document
  5. can — to be able to
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. file — a tool
  9. rock — music
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. can — a tin
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. face — to confront
  15. face — part of the head
  16. file — a line of people
  17. face — to point toward
  18. date — the fruit
  19. object — to protest
  20. rock — a stone
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. object — an aim

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