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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: file · field · rock · pit · bark · jam · can · object

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. can — to be able to
  3. file — a line of people
  4. bark — to shout
  5. field — for sport
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. can — a tin
  9. pit — a hole
  10. file — a tool
  11. rock — music
  12. object — a thing
  13. field — farmland
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. pit — in a race
  17. can — a tin
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. object — to protest
  22. field — a subject
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. object — an aim

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