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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 116 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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pitch — completely
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. mine — for digging
  12. tube — a container
  13. bear — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. lean — to bend
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. charge — a price
  20. tube — the underground
  21. branch — a division
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. lean — thin

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