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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.

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: fine · file · rock · arm · club · toast · track · hand

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. fine — high quality
  3. track — to keep track
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. track — a song
  6. club — a group
  7. hand — help
  8. track — a path
  9. rock — a stone
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. club — for dancing
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. file — a line of people
  17. club — for golf
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. fine — all right
  21. file — a document
  22. hand — in cards
  23. file — a tool
  24. arm — part of the body

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