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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. tube — the underground
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bound — obliged
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. kid — child
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bound — certain
  14. bound — tied together
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. kid — to tease
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. nail — on a finger

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