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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: file · snap · foot · band · mug · toast · bass · bowl

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. band — a ring
  5. mug — a face
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. file — a document
  8. bass — the fish
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. band — a music group
  11. bass — low music
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. file — a tool
  17. snap — to click
  18. mug — to rob
  19. foot — a measure
  20. toast — bread
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. mug — a cup
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. file — a line of people

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