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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: fall · lie · row · mouse · file · key · pitcher · bowl

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. row — to paddle
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — in music
  7. fall — the season
  8. row — a line
  9. file — a tool
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. lie — to recline
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. key — the most important part
  14. fall — to drop
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. file — a document
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fall — to drop
  22. key — for a lock
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bowl — to roll

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