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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. file — a line of people
  3. chip — to eat
  4. can — a tin
  5. file — a tool
  6. bear — the animal
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. key — in music
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. file — a document
  11. bear — the animal
  12. chip — for betting
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. object — a thing
  16. mug — a cup
  17. object — an aim
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. key — for a lock
  20. key — the most important part
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. mug — a face
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. object — to protest

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