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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mine · club · tube · racket · bear · safe · leaves · hand

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. tube — the underground
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. club — for dancing
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. tube — a container
  13. bear — the animal
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. hand — help
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. club — for golf
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. club — a group
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mine — for digging
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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