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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: stick · tube · net · lash · spring · leaves · safe · mug

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. spring — the season
  4. spring — a coil
  5. mug — a cup
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. tube — a container
  8. mug — a face
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. net — for catching
  11. spring — of water
  12. net — after costs
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. net — in sport
  15. mug — to rob
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. tube — the underground
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. safe — a strongbox

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