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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. file — a document
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. drill — army training
  5. drill — the tool
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. file — a tool
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. pit — a hole
  10. current — happening now
  11. cue — a hint
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. drill — a practice
  14. root — of a plant
  15. pit — in a race
  16. root — the cause
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. current — of water
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. current — electric
  21. file — a line of people
  22. root — of a word
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cue — for pool

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