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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
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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: rush · file · season · lie · staff · lean · dip · ball

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. file — a tool
  3. season — in sport
  4. file — a line of people
  5. lean — to bend
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. staff — employees
  16. season — of the year
  17. lie — to recline
  18. file — a document
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. dip — to sink
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. staff — employees
  23. lean — thin
  24. ball — a dance

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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