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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: file · bear · mug · fork · fine · fall · leaves · bulb

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. fall — to drop
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fork — in a road
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. fall — the season
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. mug — a cup
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. file — a document
  16. bear — the animal
  17. file — a tool
  18. fine — all right
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mug — a face
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fall — to drop

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