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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 · trunk · spring · leaves · toast · mark · pass · cap

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. spring — a coil
  6. mark — a grade
  7. tube — the underground
  8. pass — a permit
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. spring — the season
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. spring — of water
  15. toast — bread
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. cap — of ice
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. tube — a container
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. cap — a hat
  24. mark — a trace

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