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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 120 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: lie · charge · perch · file · firm · plane · rush · track

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. track — a path
  3. track — a song
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. file — a tool
  6. perch — the fish
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. firm — decided
  9. plane — a tool
  10. charge — electricity
  11. charge — in control
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. track — to keep track
  14. firm — a company
  15. lie — to recline
  16. rush — hurry
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. firm — steady
  19. charge — a price
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. file — a line of people
  24. perch — for a bird

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