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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. board — to get on
  6. swing — music
  7. tube — a container
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. board — a committee
  10. tube — the underground
  11. swing — to play on
  12. kid — child
  13. track — a path
  14. swing — in golf
  15. kid — to tease
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. track — a song
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. track — to keep track
  24. nail — for a hammer

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