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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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. kid — to tease
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. ball — a great time
  6. tube — a container
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bulb — for light
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ball — a dance
  14. kid — child
  15. track — a path
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — in music
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. track — to keep track
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. key — for a lock
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. track — a song

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