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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: season · present · tube · rush · leaves · bay · rest · row

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. row — a line
  7. tube — a container
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. row — to paddle
  10. present — a gift
  11. rush — hurry
  12. season — in sport
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. present — the time now
  21. tube — the underground
  22. season — of the year
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. rest — what's left

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