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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.

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: file · object · pitcher · root · mark · ruler · mouse · press

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. root — the cause
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. file — a line of people
  6. mark — a grade
  7. object — a thing
  8. root — of a word
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. root — of a plant
  11. file — a document
  12. object — an aim
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. file — a tool
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. object — to protest
  18. press — a publisher
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mark — a trace
  21. press — to push
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. press — newspapers

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