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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: arm · current · content · roll · present · pit · tube · foot

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. present — the time now
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. pit — in a race
  5. roll — a cake
  6. roll — a list
  7. content — happy
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. content — the amount
  10. current — electric
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. tube — the underground
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. current — of water
  17. pit — a hole
  18. foot — a measure
  19. present — a gift
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. current — happening now
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. tube — a container
  24. present — there

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