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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 want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bulb — for light
  6. firm — decided
  7. mate — a partner
  8. rule — government
  9. net — for catching
  10. track — a song
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. net — in sport
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. bulb — for light
  16. track — a path
  17. tube — the underground
  18. track — to keep track
  19. net — after costs
  20. firm — steady
  21. bear — the animal
  22. mate — a friend
  23. rule — a law
  24. firm — a company

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