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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. pit — a hole
  3. file — a line of people
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. wound — an injury
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. charge — in control
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. charge — electricity
  10. key — the most important part
  11. net — for catching
  12. file — a document
  13. net — after costs
  14. file — a tool
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. key — in music
  17. tube — a container
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. tube — the underground
  20. net — in sport
  21. key — for a lock
  22. charge — a price
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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