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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. roll — a list
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. tube — a container
  6. hand — help
  7. fine — high quality
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. bulb — for light
  11. tube — the underground
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. roll — a cake
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. fine — all right
  20. hand — in cards
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. pitch — completely
  24. tube — in a tire

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