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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 124 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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. tube — the underground
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. suit — to fit
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. object — a thing
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. suit — in cards
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. tube — a container
  16. wake — a trail
  17. suit — clothes
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. shower — rain
  22. shower — to wash
  23. object — an aim
  24. toast — bread

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