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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: wave · jam · track · stem · nail · file · mate · rash

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. file — a tool
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mate — to breed
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. track — to keep track
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. track — a path
  14. file — a document
  15. stem — to come from
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rash — a series
  20. mate — a friend
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. track — a song
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. mate — a partner

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