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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. file — a line of people
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. file — a tool
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. can — a tin
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. file — a document
  21. rule — government
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. rule — a law
  24. racket — a loud noise

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