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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. fine — high quality
  3. board — a committee
  4. net — in sport
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. net — after costs
  7. bear — the animal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mug — a cup
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. tube — a container
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. mug — a face
  14. mug — to rob
  15. chest — of your body
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. chest — of your body
  18. chest — a box
  19. board — to get on
  20. fine — all right
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bear — the animal
  23. net — for catching
  24. tube — the underground

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