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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
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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: can · mine · ruler · suit · mate · pitcher · cabinet · file

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. suit — in cards
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. mate — a friend
  5. file — a line of people
  6. mate — a partner
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. suit — clothes
  16. suit — to fit
  17. file — a document
  18. file — a tool
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mine — for digging
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mate — to breed
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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