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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
YesNo
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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: stick · tube · season · pitcher · bear · mouse · chip · leaves

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  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. tube — the underground
  2. chip — for betting
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. season — in sport
  14. bear — the animal
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. tube — a container
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. chip — to eat
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. season — of the year
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  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