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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. stock — shares
  3. scale — size or range
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. file — a line of people
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. last — finally
  8. key — for a lock
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. file — a tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. last — final
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. key — in music
  17. key — the most important part
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. scale — in music
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. lie — to recline
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. stock — goods
  24. last — to go on

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