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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a line of people
  4. can — to be able to
  5. file — a document
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. spell — magic
  9. spell — a short time
  10. staff — employees
  11. saw — the tool
  12. spell — letters
  13. pitch — completely
  14. saw — the tool
  15. object — an aim
  16. staff — employees
  17. object — to protest
  18. staff — a stick
  19. tube — a container
  20. object — a thing
  21. tube — the underground
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. can — a tin

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