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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.

Make a worksheet

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: dip · roll · charge · suit · file · pass · prune · kick

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a cake
  3. file — a document
  4. prune — to trim
  5. file — a line of people
  6. suit — to fit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. file — a tool
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. charge — electricity
  13. kick — in football
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. dip — to sink
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pass — a permit
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. suit — in cards
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — in control
  22. suit — clothes
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. roll — a list

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