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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. season — of the year
  7. rock — a stone
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. season — in sport
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. file — a line of people
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bore — to drill
  18. file — a tool
  19. band — a music group
  20. bore — to tire
  21. rock — music
  22. band — a ring
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. band — a rubber band

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