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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: cap · leaves · fine · staff · bulb · tube · clip · jam

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. clip — a video
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. tube — a container
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — a stick
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. cap — of ice
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bulb — for light
  14. clip — to cut
  15. cap — a lid
  16. staff — employees
  17. fine — all right
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. clip — for paper
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. cap — a hat
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. tube — the underground

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