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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: ball · file · sharp · mug · season · ruler · hand · arm

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a line of people
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. hand — help
  6. mug — a face
  7. season — in sport
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. season — of the year
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. ball — a great time
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. hand — in cards
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. ball — a dance
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a cup
  21. file — a tool
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. sharp — clever
  24. season — to add flavour

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