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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. track — to keep track
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. fine — high quality
  5. cap — a hat
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — a song
  11. cap — a lid
  12. tube — a container
  13. track — a path
  14. cap — of ice
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. tube — the underground
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. fine — all right
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stem — to come from
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. safe — out of danger

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