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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: bowl · jam · swing · file · foot · bulb · cap · rush

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. file — a document
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. file — a tool
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. rush — hurry
  8. file — a line of people
  9. cap — a hat
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bulb — for light
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — music
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. foot — a measure
  20. cap — of ice
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. cap — a lid
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. swing — in golf

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