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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
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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: file · pop · temple · racket · mug · scale · bulb · foot

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pop — music
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bulb — for light
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. file — a line of people
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — a measure
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. scale — in music
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pop — soda
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. pop — to visit
  23. file — a document
  24. scale — size or range

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