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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: file · rush · present · plane · can · chair · scale · pitcher

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. can — a tin
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. scale — size or range
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. can — a tin
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. scale — in music
  11. chair — a leader
  12. plane — a tool
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. present — there
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. file — a line of people
  21. can — to be able to
  22. file — a tool
  23. present — a gift
  24. present — the time 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