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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: season · rush · hide · mouse · plane · chip · mug · tube

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. mug — to rob
  3. chip — to eat
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. tube — the underground
  7. mug — a cup
  8. season — in sport
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. mug — a face
  13. plane — a tool
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. rush — hurry
  17. season — of the year
  18. chip — for betting
  19. tube — a container
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mouse — for a computer

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