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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. That must've been a ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. tube — the underground
  5. field — a subject
  6. field — for sport
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. field — farmland
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. rest — what's left
  12. charge — in control
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. toast — bread
  17. bear — the animal
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bear — the animal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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