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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. bass — low music
  4. file — a tool
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ball — a dance
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. file — a line of people
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. deal — to handle
  13. mark — a grade
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. ball — a great time
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bass — the fish
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. racket — for tennis

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