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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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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: file · tube · wave · rush · drill · temple · can · saw

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. drill — the tool
  3. tube — the underground
  4. drill — a practice
  5. drill — army training
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. file — a line of people
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. file — a document
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. saw — the tool
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rush — hurry
  21. can — a tin
  22. file — a tool
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. saw — the tool

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