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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: track · calf · bay · rash · fan · tube · file · lie

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. file — a line of people
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. rash — a series
  6. track — a song
  7. file — a tool
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. tube — the underground
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. rash — hasty
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. file — a document
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. lie — to recline
  20. track — to keep track
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. track — a path
  23. tube — a container
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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