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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
468
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: mark · bowl · file · swing · toast · jam · rush · squash

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. squash — the sport
  3. rush — hurry
  4. swing — music
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. squash — to crush
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. swing — in golf
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. toast — bread
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. file — a line of people
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. swing — to play on
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. mark — a grade
  24. file — a tool

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