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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. season — in sport
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. chest — of your body
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. toast — bread
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. season — of the year
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. tube — the underground
  17. chest — a box
  18. chest — of your body
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. toast — the most admired

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