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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: bound · can · tube · arm · ruler · staff · pass · rush

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. staff — employees
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — certain
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. tube — a container
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. pass — a permit
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. can — a tin
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. can — a tin
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bound — obliged
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. tube — the underground
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. can — to be able to
  23. staff — employees
  24. staff — a stick

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