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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: file · hide · deal · charge · bark · cue · mouse · rash

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. file — a document
  4. rash — a series
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. charge — a price
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. file — a line of people
  10. file — a tool
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. cue — a hint
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. cue — a signal
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bark — to shout
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — hasty
  24. deal — to handle

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