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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: tube · file · season · dip · bay · temple · pitcher · plane

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. file — a tool
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. season — in sport
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. tube — a container
  18. dip — to sink
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. file — a line of people
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. plane — a tool
  24. tube — the underground

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