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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ball — a dance
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. saw — the tool
  14. tube — a container
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. tube — the underground
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. ball — a great time

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