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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 want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. season — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. march — the month
  8. season — of the year
  9. can — a tin
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. tube — the underground
  12. march — music
  13. march — the month
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bulb — for light
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rash — a series
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rash — hasty

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