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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. current — of water
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. cue — a signal
  7. tube — the underground
  8. stock — goods
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. current — happening now
  11. cue — for pool
  12. current — electric
  13. stock — shares
  14. tube — a container
  15. dip — to sink
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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