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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 116 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: rush · fine · file · trunk · leaves · fall · deal · stick

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. rush — hurry
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. deal — to handle
  6. fall — to drop
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. file — a tool
  10. fine — all right
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. file — a document
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fine — high quality
  19. fall — to drop
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. file — a line of people
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. fall — the season
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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