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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: stand · file · saw · rush · jam · wind · lean · current

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. stand — to bear
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. file — a document
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. saw — the tool
  8. file — a tool
  9. wind — moving air
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. lean — to bend
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — electric
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rush — hurry
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. current — of water
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. lean — thin
  23. wind — moving air
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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