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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: date · rush · tube · stick · ground · club · mark · bowl

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. mark — a grade
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. tube — the underground
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. ground — the earth
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. club — a group
  13. date — the fruit
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. club — for golf
  18. club — for dancing
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. ground — crushed
  21. tube — a container
  22. ground — a position
  23. mark — a trace
  24. bowl — a football final

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