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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: drill · foot · fan · rock · file · patient · racket · toast

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. file — a tool
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. rock — a stone
  6. drill — army training
  7. rock — music
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. toast — bread
  11. drill — the tool
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. file — a line of people
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. foot — a measure
  21. drill — a practice
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. racket — for tennis

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