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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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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 don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. fall — to drop
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. fall — the season
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. fall — to drop
  10. rock — a stone
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. rock — music
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. can — a tin
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pitch — completely
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. tube — a container

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