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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. can — to be able to
  4. key — the most important part
  5. tube — the underground
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. roll — a list
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. tube — a container
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. roll — a cake
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. key — in music
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bore — to tire
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rush — to hurry

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