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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'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. mate — a partner
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. spell — magic
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. tube — the underground
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. spell — letters
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. fine — all right
  14. mate — to breed
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mate — a friend
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bank — for money
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. spell — a short time
  24. tube — a container

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