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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 120 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: arm · file · tube · pit · spell · key · fan · current

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. file — a document
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. file — a line of people
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. file — a tool
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. key — for a lock
  9. pit — in a race
  10. key — in music
  11. spell — a short time
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. key — the most important part
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. current — of water
  16. spell — letters
  17. pit — a hole
  18. tube — the underground
  19. current — electric
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. tube — a container
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. current — happening now

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