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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: track · deal · roll · rock · can · bore · file · cabinet

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bore — to drill
  4. rock — music
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. file — a document
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. track — to keep track
  9. roll — a list
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rock — a stone
  12. can — a tin
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. file — a tool
  17. file — a line of people
  18. deal — to handle
  19. track — a song
  20. can — a tin
  21. roll — a cake
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bore — to tire

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