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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. key — in music
  5. stand — to bear
  6. tube — a container
  7. pop — soda
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. pop — music
  10. game — wild animals
  11. tube — the underground
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. roll — a cake
  18. pop — to visit
  19. key — for a lock
  20. bear — the animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bear — the animal
  24. tube — in a tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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