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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: pop · arm · wave · charge · pass · file · tube · mine

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. pop — soda
  6. file — a tool
  7. tube — a container
  8. file — a document
  9. charge — electricity
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. charge — a price
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. pop — to visit
  16. pop — music
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. charge — in control
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. file — a line of people

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