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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. tube — a container
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. march — the month
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. march — the month
  7. deal — to handle
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mate — a partner
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. tube — the underground
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. march — music
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — to breed

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