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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. tube — a container
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bound — obliged
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bound — certain
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bound — tied together
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. stand — to bear
  17. tube — the underground
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pit — a hole
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. sharp — with an edge

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