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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
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: spell · file · foot · press · pitcher · can · row · nail

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. can — a tin
  4. press — newspapers
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. can — to be able to
  7. spell — magic
  8. file — a tool
  9. press — to push
  10. spell — a short time
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. spell — letters
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. file — a document
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. can — a tin
  18. row — to paddle
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. file — a line of people
  22. press — a publisher
  23. foot — a measure
  24. row — a line

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