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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. foot — a measure
  3. cue — for pool
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bore — to tire
  8. board — to get on
  9. cue — a hint
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. perch — the fish
  13. file — a line of people
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bore — to drill
  19. cue — a signal
  20. board — a committee
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. file — a tool
  23. bulb — for light
  24. perch — for a bird

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