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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 want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — a container
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. tube — the underground
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. current — happening now
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. bore — to drill
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. current — electric
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. mine — for digging
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. pitch — completely
  23. vault — a safe
  24. current — of water

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