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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. tube — a container
  3. rest — what's left
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. present — the time now
  6. cue — a signal
  7. rest — what's left
  8. current — happening now
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. mine — for digging
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. current — of water
  17. present — a gift
  18. rest — a break
  19. cue — a hint
  20. tube — the underground
  21. current — electric
  22. foot — a measure
  23. cue — for pool
  24. leaves — lets stay

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