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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.

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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. file — a document
  3. mug — a face
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. root — the cause
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mate — a friend
  10. file — a line of people
  11. root — of a plant
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mug — to rob
  18. root — of a word
  19. stand — to bear
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. pitch — completely
  22. mate — a partner
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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