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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 120 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: key · file · rash · fine · chip · sharp · mug · lash

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  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. file — a tool
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. fine — all right
  4. rash — hasty
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. chip — for betting
  7. mug — a face
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rash — a series
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. chip — to eat
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. fine — high quality
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — in music
  19. file — a document
  20. mug — a cup
  21. key — the most important part
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. sharp — clever
  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