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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
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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 · file · scale · firm · lie · game · hide · cue

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. cue — a signal
  4. game — wild animals
  5. game — a match
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. firm — steady
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. file — a line of people
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. cue — a hint
  14. firm — a company
  15. lie — to recline
  16. cue — for pool
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. scale — size or range
  19. scale — in music
  20. firm — decided
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. file — a document
  24. game — a kind of play

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