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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 116 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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. file — a line of people
  5. cue — for pool
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. file — a document
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mug — a cup
  10. object — a thing
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. mug — a face
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. mug — to rob
  15. wound — an injury
  16. cue — a signal
  17. tube — a container
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. object — an aim
  20. tube — the underground
  21. cue — a hint
  22. object — to protest
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. file — a tool

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