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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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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: lean · fork · rush · ball · row · file · bound · scale

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. row — to paddle
  5. file — a tool
  6. ball — a great time
  7. fork — in a road
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bound — certain
  11. lean — thin
  12. scale — in music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. file — a line of people
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. ball — a dance
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lean — to bend
  19. rush — hurry
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. bound — obliged
  23. row — a line
  24. row — a quarrel

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