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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 116 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: spring · nail · fork · suit · can · mark · file · perch

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a tool
  3. suit — to fit
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mark — a grade
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. suit — in cards
  8. perch — the fish
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. can — to be able to
  11. spring — of water
  12. spring — the season
  13. file — a line of people
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. fork — in a road
  21. spring — a coil
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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