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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 · jam · root · pitch · season · straw · saw · pass

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. root — the cause
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. root — of a word
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. season — in sport
  9. file — a tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. file — a line of people
  16. season — of the year
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pitch — completely
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. saw — the tool

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