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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.

Make a worksheet

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: staff · key · pitch · file · mug · cap · foot · bulb

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. file — a tool
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cap — a lid
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — the most important part
  7. file — a line of people
  8. mug — to rob
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pitch — completely
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. key — in music
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. staff — employees
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mug — a cup
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. mug — a face
  23. cap — of ice
  24. file — a document

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