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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: cap · track · rush · coach · object · temple · cue · tube

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. track — a song
  3. object — an aim
  4. track — to keep track
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cap — a lid
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cue — for pool
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. tube — the underground
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. object — a thing
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. tube — a container
  18. track — a path
  19. cue — a hint
  20. object — to protest
  21. cap — of ice
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cap — a hat

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