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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. band — a ring
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. season — of the year
  12. bear — the animal
  13. season — in sport
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. band — a music group
  17. bear — the animal
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — a container
  20. scale — in music
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. season — to add flavour

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