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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bank — for money
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. tube — the underground
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bank — for money
  13. current — happening now
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. current — electric
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. saw — the tool
  19. current — of water
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. saw — the tool
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bank — of a river

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