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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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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 · rock · deal · tube · mark · pit · cell · bank

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bank — for money
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. rock — a stone
  6. deal — to handle
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. cell — in biology
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. tube — the underground
  11. rock — music
  12. bank — for money
  13. pit — a hole
  14. mug — a face
  15. tube — a container
  16. bank — of a river
  17. pit — in a race
  18. cell — a phone
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mark — a trace
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. mug — a cup

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