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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: content · racket · tube · leaves · current · lie · rash · file

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. file — a document
  5. file — a tool
  6. content — the amount
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. tube — a container
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. rash — a series
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. file — a line of people
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — of water
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rash — hasty
  19. tube — the underground
  20. content — happy
  21. current — electric
  22. lie — to recline
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. lie — an untruth

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