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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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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: hide · mug · pit · ball · fine · file · bound · current

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a line of people
  4. fine — all right
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bound — tied together
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. current — electric
  9. file — a document
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pit — a hole
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bound — certain
  14. ball — a great time
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — a cup
  17. current — happening now
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pit — in a race
  22. current — of water
  23. bound — obliged
  24. fine — high quality

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