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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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. tube — a container
  4. firm — steady
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. tube — the underground
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. firm — a company
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. toast — bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. firm — decided

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