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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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  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. tube — in a tire
  2. mate — to breed
  3. craft — a skill
  4. tube — a container
  5. track — a path
  6. can — to be able to
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mate — a partner
  9. tube — the underground
  10. track — a song
  11. craft — boats
  12. track — to keep track
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. bear — the animal
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. mate — a friend
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bear — the animal
  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