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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 116 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: last · leaves · file · key · ruler · mouse · pop · rush

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — the most important part
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. file — a tool
  7. last — finally
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pop — soda
  10. pop — to visit
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. rush — hurry
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pop — music
  16. file — a document
  17. last — to go on
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. file — a line of people
  22. key — in music
  23. last — final
  24. ruler — for measuring

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