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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. suit — clothes
  3. saw — the tool
  4. suit — to fit
  5. tube — a container
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. prune — to trim
  8. saw — the tool
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. chest — a box
  11. cap — a hat
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. suit — in cards
  15. prune — to trim
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. cap — a lid
  18. cap — of ice
  19. deal — to handle
  20. chest — of your body
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. stand — to bear
  23. chest — of your body
  24. tube — the underground

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