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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: can · rush · pitch · root · bank · bound · tube · toast

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. tube — a container
  4. can — a tin
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bound — obliged
  7. rush — hurry
  8. tube — the underground
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. root — of a word
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — for money
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. toast — bread
  20. bank — of a river
  21. can — a tin
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. pitch — completely
  24. pitch — a sports field

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