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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: leaves · mug · file · jam · lie · last · scale · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. scale — in music
  3. scale — size or range
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. last — finally
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. file — a line of people
  10. mug — a face
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. mug — to rob
  13. last — to go on
  14. file — a tool
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. lie — to recline
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mug — a cup
  23. file — a document
  24. last — final

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