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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: hide · foot · file · hand · can · lie · jam · spring

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. spring — of water
  5. file — a line of people
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. file — a tool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. can — to be able to
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. spring — the season
  13. spring — a coil
  14. can — a tin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. lie — to recline
  18. foot — a measure
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. hand — help
  24. hand — 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