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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.

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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: pop · season · file · current · ruler · nail · rest · tube

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pop — to visit
  4. file — a document
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. pop — soda
  9. file — a line of people
  10. rest — a break
  11. pop — music
  12. tube — a container
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. rest — what's left
  16. current — happening now
  17. season — in sport
  18. tube — the underground
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. file — a tool
  21. current — electric
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. current — of water
  24. rest — what's left

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