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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. can — a tin
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. can — a tin
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pitch — completely
  12. tube — the underground
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. rush — hurry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mark — a trace
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. cue — for pool
  21. pound — a weight
  22. can — to be able to
  23. tube — a container
  24. cue — a signal

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