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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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. stand — to bear
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. root — the cause
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. cue — for pool
  8. root — of a word
  9. bore — to drill
  10. cue — a hint
  11. roll — a cake
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. cue — a signal
  19. roll — a list
  20. root — of a plant
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bore — to tire
  23. tube — a container
  24. ball — a dance

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