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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. deal — to handle
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bound — tied together
  7. suit — in cards
  8. craft — a skill
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. bound — certain
  13. suit — clothes
  14. craft — boats
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. tube — a container
  17. ball — a dance
  18. tube — the underground
  19. bound — obliged
  20. rush — hurry
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. ball — a great time
  24. rush — to hurry

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