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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. pop — music
  3. pop — soda
  4. current — electric
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. pop — to visit
  8. bound — tied together
  9. tube — the underground
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. current — happening now
  14. bear — the animal
  15. fine — all right
  16. fine — high quality
  17. current — of water
  18. bound — certain
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. tube — a container
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bear — to put up with

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