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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: ruler · key · file · lash · bark · pit · fan · track

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. track — a song
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. key — in music
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. track — a path
  11. file — a line of people
  12. track — to keep track
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. file — a document
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pit — a hole
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bark — to shout
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. file — a tool
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. key — the most important part

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