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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 · saw · mug · arm · current · staff · foot · mate

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. staff — employees
  3. current — of water
  4. staff — a stick
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mug — a face
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. file — a document
  9. current — electric
  10. file — a line of people
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. current — happening now
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mug — a cup
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. file — a tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mate — to breed
  22. staff — employees
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mate — a partner

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