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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 116 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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. net — after costs
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bank — for money
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — a container
  9. suit — clothes
  10. season — in sport
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. kick — in football
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — of the year
  16. net — for catching
  17. suit — to fit
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. net — in sport
  20. bank — of a river
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bank — for money

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