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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: jam · swing · rash · bulb · roll · file · rule · lie

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bulb — for light
  3. swing — in golf
  4. swing — music
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. swing — to play on
  7. rule — a law
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. roll — a cake
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. lie — to recline
  12. rule — government
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. rash — hasty
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. file — a line of people
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. roll — a list
  20. bulb — for light
  21. file — a tool
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. rash — a series

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