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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 120 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: swing · file · fork · arm · fan · present · leaves · temple

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. swing — in golf
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. present — a gift
  6. present — the time now
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. present — there
  9. fork — in a road
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. swing — to play on
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. file — a tool
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. file — a line of people
  24. swing — music

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