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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 116 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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ball — a great time
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. tube — the underground
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lie — to recline
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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