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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: can · staff · current · trunk · mine · stick · file · snap

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. file — a document
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. file — a line of people
  7. can — to be able to
  8. snap — to click
  9. staff — employees
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. current — of water
  13. current — happening now
  14. mine — for digging
  15. can — a tin
  16. staff — a stick
  17. current — electric
  18. file — a tool
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. can — a tin
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. staff — employees

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