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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: game · current · hide · file · key · firm · foot · racket

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. file — a tool
  4. firm — steady
  5. key — in music
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. current — happening now
  8. game — wild animals
  9. foot — a measure
  10. key — for a lock
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. file — a document
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. current — electric
  16. firm — a company
  17. current — of water
  18. key — the most important part
  19. firm — decided
  20. file — a line of people
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. game — a match
  24. hide — to keep secret

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