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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 information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. can — a tin
  4. pass — a permit
  5. wound — an injury
  6. file — a tool
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. file — a line of people
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. can — a tin
  11. scale — in music
  12. staff — a stick
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. wound — an injury
  16. staff — employees
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — to drop
  19. staff — employees
  20. fall — the season
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. scale — size or range

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