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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: file · pit · bowl · sharp · deal · nail · bound · press

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. bound — tied together
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. press — to push
  7. pit — in a race
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bound — obliged
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bound — certain
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. press — newspapers
  16. pit — a hole
  17. file — a document
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. deal — to handle
  23. file — a tool
  24. bowl — a dish

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