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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: nail · ground · bank · pit · rush · can · pitcher · pass

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. can — a tin
  3. ground — crushed
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. can — a tin
  6. ground — the earth
  7. rush — hurry
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. can — to be able to
  16. ground — a position
  17. bank — for money
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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