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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: file · mark · content · drill · fine · tear · mug · bear

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. drill — the tool
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tear — from crying
  5. content — the amount
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bear — the animal
  8. tear — to rip
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. drill — a practice
  13. bear — the animal
  14. tear — from crying
  15. content — happy
  16. mug — a face
  17. drill — army training
  18. file — a line of people
  19. mug — a cup
  20. file — a document
  21. fine — all right
  22. file — a tool
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bear — to put up with

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