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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. object — a thing
  4. rest — what's left
  5. key — for a lock
  6. tube — a container
  7. spell — a short time
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. pitch — completely
  10. key — the most important part
  11. spell — magic
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rest — a break
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. tube — the underground
  16. spell — letters
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. key — in music
  21. rest — what's left
  22. object — an aim
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. lash — an eyelash

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