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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.

Make a worksheet

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 haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. dip — to sink
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. tube — the underground
  5. pit — in a race
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. plane — a tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. can — a tin
  11. face — to confront
  12. face — part of the head
  13. can — a tin
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. tube — a container
  17. face — to point toward
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. pit — a hole
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. racket — a loud noise

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