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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  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. file — a document
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. plane — a tool
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. object — a thing
  9. object — an aim
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. file — a line of people
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. object — to protest
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. row — to paddle
  19. row — a line
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. lash — to lash out
  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