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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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — a container
  3. bass — low music
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. wake — a trail
  6. bank — for money
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. chip — to eat
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bass — the fish
  12. staff — employees
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bank — for money
  16. tube — the underground
  17. staff — a stick
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. chip — for betting
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bank — of a river
  23. key — in music
  24. staff — employees

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