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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: wake · bear · key · tube · ball · swing · jam · cue

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bear — the animal
  4. cue — a signal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. swing — music
  7. swing — in golf
  8. key — in music
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. key — for a lock
  13. wake — a trail
  14. bear — the animal
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — the underground
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. cue — a hint
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. cue — for pool
  22. ball — a great time
  23. swing — to play on
  24. ball — a dance

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