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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: bulb · fine · jam · foot · fan · file · mouse · key

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. file — a document
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. fine — high quality
  5. key — the most important part
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. file — a tool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. fine — all right
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. key — for a lock
  19. file — a line of people
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. foot — a measure
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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