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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. rest — what's left
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. cue — a hint
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rest — a break
  7. mug — a face
  8. face — part of the head
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mug — to rob
  11. cue — for pool
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. file — a line of people
  14. track — to keep track
  15. file — a tool
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mug — a cup
  19. face — to confront
  20. face — to point toward
  21. deal — to handle
  22. track — a path
  23. track — a song
  24. pitcher — a jug

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