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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 120 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. foot — a measure
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — a practice
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. key — for a lock
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. drill — army training
  13. pop — soda
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. tube — the underground
  16. key — in music
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. pop — to visit
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. key — the most important part
  22. tube — a container
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pop — music

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