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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · can · wake · file · fine · club · scale · mark

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. can — a tin
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. fine — all right
  7. mark — a trace
  8. can — a tin
  9. file — a tool
  10. wake — a trail
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. scale — size or range
  15. scale — in music
  16. club — a group
  17. club — for golf
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mark — a grade
  21. file — a document
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fine — high quality
  24. club — for dancing

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