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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. scale — in music
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. face — part of the head
  7. current — happening now
  8. ground — crushed
  9. current — electric
  10. ground — a position
  11. tube — the underground
  12. tube — a container
  13. current — of water
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. ground — the earth
  16. scale — size or range
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. face — to point toward
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. face — to confront
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — a permit

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