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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 120 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: kid · mouse · lie · ruler · track · tube · bulb · leaves

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. track — a path
  6. track — a song
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. kid — to tease
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bulb — for light
  13. tube — the underground
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — to keep track
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. tube — a container
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. kid — child
  22. lie — to recline
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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