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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. net — for catching
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. file — a tool
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. net — in sport
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. charge — electricity
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. file — a line of people
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. net — after costs
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. charge — in control
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. charge — a price
  23. foot — a measure
  24. nail — for a hammer

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