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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. tube — the underground
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. ball — a dance
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. key — in music
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. dip — to sink
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. wax — to grow
  14. key — for a lock
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. key — the most important part
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. ball — a great time
  20. tube — a container
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. pitcher — a jug

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