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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. tube — a container
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bulb — for light
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bulb — for light
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. saw — the tool
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. object — a thing
  15. tube — the underground
  16. object — an aim
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. fine — all right
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. fine — high quality
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. stand — to bear

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