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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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. plane — a tool
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bound — tied together
  5. tube — a container
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. bass — low music
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. root — of a plant
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. root — of a word
  18. bound — certain
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. root — the cause
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bass — the fish

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