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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: rock · pitch · pop · file · rush · snap · tube · perch

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. file — a tool
  5. pop — soda
  6. tube — the underground
  7. pitch — completely
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. snap — to click
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pop — to visit
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. tube — a container
  14. perch — the fish
  15. rush — hurry
  16. file — a document
  17. file — a line of people
  18. pop — music
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. rock — music
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rock — a stone
  24. tube — in a tire

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