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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
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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: tube · rush · vault · net · sharp · mug · land · coach

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. tube — a container
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. land — ground
  5. tube — the underground
  6. net — in sport
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. net — after costs
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. vault — a safe
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. land — to come down
  18. sharp — clever
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. net — for catching
  22. land — a country
  23. mug — a cup
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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