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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
468
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: current · staff · drill · plane · ball · ruler · file · lie

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. ball — a great time
  3. staff — employees
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. file — a document
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. drill — army training
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. staff — a stick
  11. current — of water
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. lie — to recline
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. current — happening now
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. staff — employees
  20. drill — the tool
  21. file — a tool
  22. plane — a tool
  23. drill — a practice
  24. current — electric

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