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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: can · nail · pit · fine · toast · file · lie · stem

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stem — to come from
  4. fine — high quality
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. pit — in a race
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — bread
  12. file — a line of people
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. can — to be able to
  15. file — a tool
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. file — a document
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. lie — to recline
  21. can — a tin
  22. fine — all right
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. pit — a hole

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