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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: key · nail · leaves · file · mouse · cap · fan · content

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. file — a document
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. file — a tool
  5. file — a line of people
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. key — the most important part
  9. content — the amount
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cap — a lid
  12. key — for a lock
  13. cap — of ice
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. content — happy
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — in music
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cap — a hat
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. mouse — the animal

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