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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 120 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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. spell — a short time
  3. face — part of the head
  4. tube — the underground
  5. staff — employees
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. firm — decided
  10. spell — letters
  11. staff — a stick
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. staff — employees
  14. bass — the fish
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. firm — steady
  17. bulb — for light
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bass — low music
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. firm — a company
  23. face — to confront
  24. spell — magic

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