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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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. deal — to handle
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. key — in music
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. key — for a lock
  11. tube — a container
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. key — the most important part
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. date — the fruit

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