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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 120 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: pit · hide · staff · file · dip · pop · net · can

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. staff — employees
  3. dip — to sink
  4. net — after costs
  5. pop — soda
  6. pit — a hole
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pop — music
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. pit — in a race
  11. file — a line of people
  12. staff — employees
  13. pop — to visit
  14. staff — a stick
  15. can — a tin
  16. net — for catching
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. can — to be able to
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. can — a tin
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. net — in sport
  24. file — a tool

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