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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
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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: file · mug · bat · ruler · bay · bear · pit · rush

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. file — a line of people
  6. file — a tool
  7. bear — the animal
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. mug — to rob
  10. bat — the animal
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. file — a document
  19. pit — a hole
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. pit — in a race
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — a face
  24. rush — a thrill

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