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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.

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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: foot · file · nail · tube · mug · bank · season · toast

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. mug — to rob
  3. tube — a container
  4. bank — for money
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. mug — a cup
  8. toast — bread
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. file — a line of people
  12. mug — a face
  13. bank — of a river
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. file — a document
  17. bank — for money
  18. season — in sport
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. season — of the year
  22. tube — the underground
  23. foot — a measure
  24. file — a tool

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