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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: stand · file · drill · nail · press · cabinet · ruler · track

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. press — a publisher
  3. stand — to bear
  4. press — newspapers
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. file — a tool
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. drill — a practice
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. drill — the tool
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. file — a document
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. press — to push
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. drill — army training
  20. file — a line of people
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. track — a song
  24. track — a path

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