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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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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. ground — the earth
  3. bank — for money
  4. tube — a container
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. can — a tin
  7. land — a country
  8. tube — the underground
  9. rest — a break
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. cue — for pool
  12. bank — of a river
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — what's left
  15. land — ground
  16. land — to come down
  17. ground — crushed
  18. bank — for money
  19. can — to be able to
  20. cue — a signal
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. cue — a hint
  23. can — a tin
  24. ground — a position

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