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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: sharp · land · hide · rush · pitch · tube · snap · vault

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. sharp — clever
  5. tube — the underground
  6. land — ground
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. land — a country
  10. snap — to click
  11. land — to come down
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. vault — a safe
  19. pitch — completely
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rush — to hurry

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