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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: roll · jam · charge · key · file · arm · bowl · bay

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. key — in music
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. key — for a lock
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. charge — a price
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. roll — a list
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. file — a tool
  13. charge — electricity
  14. key — the most important part
  15. file — a line of people
  16. charge — in control
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. roll — a cake
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. jam — in traffic

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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