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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.

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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: rest · stick · track · pass · lie · rock · swing · file

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — music
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pass — a permit
  6. track — to keep track
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. file — a tool
  9. track — a song
  10. file — a document
  11. track — a path
  12. rest — what's left
  13. swing — music
  14. rest — a break
  15. swing — in golf
  16. lie — to recline
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. swing — to play on
  24. rest — what's left

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