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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · mouse · march · mark · pitcher · chest · file · key

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mark — a grade
  3. march — the month
  4. chest — a box
  5. file — a tool
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. key — in music
  8. march — music
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. file — a line of people
  13. key — the most important part
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. march — the month
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. mark — a trace
  18. chest — of your body
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. file — a document
  23. chest — of your body
  24. key — for a lock

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