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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.

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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. squash — to crush
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mate — to breed
  10. row — to paddle
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mug — to rob
  13. tube — the underground
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. row — a line
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. squash — the sport
  21. tube — a container
  22. pass — a permit
  23. mug — a face
  24. mate — a friend

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