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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cabinet · bound · kid · file · tube · bay · rock · pitcher

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. kid — child
  7. file — a line of people
  8. tube — a container
  9. tube — the underground
  10. bound — certain
  11. rock — music
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bound — tied together
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. file — a document
  18. file — a tool
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. kid — to tease
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. bound — obliged
  24. pitcher — a jug

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