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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: file · jam · perch · pit · fan · bore · roll · club

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. file — a line of people
  7. pit — a hole
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. file — a document
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. file — a tool
  17. pit — in a race
  18. club — a group
  19. club — for golf
  20. bore — to tire
  21. roll — a list
  22. perch — the fish
  23. club — for dancing
  24. jam — in traffic

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