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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. scale — size or range
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bore — to drill
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. tube — a container
  8. bore — to tire
  9. season — of the year
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. scale — in music
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. ground — a position
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bound — obliged
  17. season — in sport
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bound — certain
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. ground — the earth
  22. bound — tied together
  23. ground — crushed
  24. bore — gave birth

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