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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: mouse · file · kick · straw · fine · jam · date · bore

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. file — a document
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. kick — in football
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. date — the fruit
  8. bore — to drill
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — high quality
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. bore — to tire
  17. file — a line of people
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. file — a tool
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. fine — a penalty

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