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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 · mug · pop · leaves · cap · bound · branch · drill

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. pop — to visit
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. pop — music
  5. cap — a hat
  6. bound — certain
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. drill — a practice
  10. drill — the tool
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mug — to rob
  13. branch — a division
  14. bound — tied together
  15. tube — the underground
  16. pop — soda
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — a face
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. tube — a container
  21. cap — a lid
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bound — obliged
  24. drill — army training

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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