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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. ball — a great time
  3. saw — the tool
  4. tube — the underground
  5. charge — in control
  6. cue — a signal
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pass — a permit
  12. cue — a hint
  13. charge — a price
  14. board — a committee
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ball — a dance
  17. charge — electricity
  18. tube — a container
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. board — to get on
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. cue — for pool

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