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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.

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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: saw · suit · tube · bear · arm · object · bore · can

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bore — to drill
  4. object — to protest
  5. can — a tin
  6. saw — the tool
  7. can — to be able to
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. object — an aim
  11. can — a tin
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. tube — a container
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. tube — the underground
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. saw — the tool
  20. suit — to fit
  21. object — a thing
  22. bear — the animal
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. suit — clothes

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