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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: can · march · hide · season · mark · file · staff · last

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. mark — a trace
  3. last — to go on
  4. can — to be able to
  5. season — in sport
  6. staff — a stick
  7. can — a tin
  8. mark — a grade
  9. season — of the year
  10. staff — employees
  11. file — a tool
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. last — final
  14. can — a tin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. march — the month
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. march — the month
  19. last — finally
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. file — a line of people
  22. march — music
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. staff — employees

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