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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 116 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
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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: tube · mouse · saw · present · key · firm · bear · track

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. saw — the tool
  3. present — the time now
  4. firm — steady
  5. firm — decided
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. present — a gift
  8. bear — the animal
  9. tube — the underground
  10. present — there
  11. track — to keep track
  12. firm — a company
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. tube — a container
  15. bear — the animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. track — a song
  23. track — a path
  24. bear — to put up with

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