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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: leaves · file · rush · row · drill · ruler · jam · rash

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. file — a document
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. drill — a practice
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. drill — army training
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. drill — the tool
  15. row — to paddle
  16. file — a tool
  17. rash — hasty
  18. row — a line
  19. rash — a series
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. file — a line of people
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. jam — in traffic

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