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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: rush · fan · file · straw · can · present · suit · bowl

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. file — a line of people
  5. can — to be able to
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. present — a gift
  9. present — there
  10. file — a tool
  11. rush — hurry
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. can — a tin
  15. suit — to fit
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. can — a tin
  19. suit — in cards
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. present — the time now
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bowl — to roll

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