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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.

Make a worksheet

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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. wind — moving air
  3. file — a tool
  4. file — a line of people
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. current — happening now
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mug — a face
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. wind — moving air
  15. current — electric
  16. mug — to rob
  17. game — wild animals
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. mug — a cup
  20. current — of water
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. game — a match
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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