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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
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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: file · rock · cabinet · current · capital · toast · face · drill

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. file — a line of people
  3. file — a document
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. capital — a city
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. face — part of the head
  8. capital — a big letter
  9. face — to confront
  10. rock — music
  11. current — electric
  12. drill — a practice
  13. current — happening now
  14. file — a tool
  15. drill — the tool
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. current — of water
  19. capital — money
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. toast — bread
  22. rock — a stone
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. face — to point toward

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