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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. season — of the year
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. charge — in control
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — a container
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. key — the most important part
  11. key — for a lock
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. charge — electricity
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pitch — completely
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. key — in music
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. charge — a price
  24. season — in sport

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