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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pit — in a race
  3. file — a line of people
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitch — completely
  7. file — a tool
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. stand — to bear
  10. can — to be able to
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — tied together
  15. file — a document
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. can — a tin
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pit — a hole
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bound — certain
  24. tube — a container

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