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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. rock — a stone
  3. tube — a container
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stand — to bear
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. cap — of ice
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. file — a line of people
  10. file — a document
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. tube — the underground
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. season — of the year
  16. cap — a hat
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rock — music
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cap — a lid
  22. season — in sport
  23. rush — hurry
  24. cabinet — ministers

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