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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. ball — a great time
  8. cap — a hat
  9. tube — the underground
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. ball — a dance
  12. can — a tin
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. tube — a container
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. cap — a lid
  18. bulb — for light
  19. cap — of ice
  20. can — a tin
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — high quality
  23. saw — the tool
  24. tube — in a tire

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