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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. lie — to recline
  4. tube — a container
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. bank — of a river
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bank — for money
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bank — for money
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. saw — the tool
  18. tube — the underground

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