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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: tube · ball · row · present · chip · drill · temple · stick

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. tube — a container
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. ball — a dance
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. row — a line
  9. present — a gift
  10. row — to paddle
  11. ball — a great time
  12. present — there
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. chip — for betting
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. drill — the tool
  18. drill — a practice
  19. tube — the underground
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. chip — to eat
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. drill — army training

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