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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: mug · toast · face · bass · craft · hide · rush · tube

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. craft — a skill
  3. tube — a container
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. face — to point toward
  6. toast — bread
  7. mug — to rob
  8. face — to confront
  9. face — part of the head
  10. tube — the underground
  11. bass — the fish
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. mug — a cup
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bass — low music
  20. mug — a face
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. craft — boats
  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