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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. track — to keep track
  6. saw — the tool
  7. field — for sport
  8. current — electric
  9. file — a document
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. chip — to eat
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. field — a subject
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. track — a path
  17. current — happening now
  18. saw — the tool
  19. field — farmland
  20. current — of water
  21. file — a tool
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bore — to tire
  24. track — a song

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