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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: mouse · chest · file · capital · leaves · mark · chair · bulb

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mark — a trace
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. bulb — for light
  6. capital — money
  7. chest — a box
  8. bulb — for light
  9. chest — of your body
  10. chest — of your body
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. file — a tool
  14. capital — a city
  15. mark — a grade
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. chair — a leader

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