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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. file — a document
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. march — music
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. file — a tool
  8. march — the month
  9. lean — thin
  10. staff — employees
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. staff — a stick
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rock — music
  18. staff — employees
  19. rock — a stone
  20. lie — to recline
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. march — the month
  24. lean — to bend

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