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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: bear · file · rush · pitcher · rule · key · fan · bay

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. file — a line of people
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. bear — the animal
  15. file — a tool
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. file — a document
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. key — in music
  20. key — the most important part
  21. rule — a law
  22. rush — hurry
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. rule — government

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