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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.

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: bark · toast · stand · dip · bear · tube · can · bowl

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. dip — to sink
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. can — a tin
  4. bark — to shout
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. tube — a container
  12. toast — bread
  13. tube — the underground
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bear — the animal
  22. can — a tin
  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