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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. charge — in control
  4. tube — the underground
  5. bound — tied together
  6. key — for a lock
  7. root — the cause
  8. root — of a plant
  9. bound — obliged
  10. charge — electricity
  11. current — happening now
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. charge — a price
  14. net — in sport
  15. net — after costs
  16. current — electric
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. key — the most important part
  19. current — of water
  20. bound — certain
  21. root — of a word
  22. net — for catching
  23. key — in music
  24. tube — a container

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