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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: cap · can · rock · file · bound · bark · cabinet · jam

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. file — a document
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. rock — a stone
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. can — a tin
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bound — certain
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. file — a tool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bark — to shout
  15. cap — a lid
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bound — tied together
  18. cap — of ice
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. can — to be able to
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rock — music
  23. cap — a hat
  24. file — a line of people

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