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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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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: arm · rest · mark · wound · file · track · mug · cue

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a hint
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. track — a path
  6. mark — a grade
  7. file — a line of people
  8. file — a tool
  9. rest — a break
  10. mark — a trace
  11. rest — what's left
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. wound — an injury
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. wound — an injury
  16. mug — to rob
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mug — a face
  19. track — a song
  20. track — to keep track
  21. mug — a cup
  22. rest — what's left
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — part of the body

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