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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: mouse · snap · mug · bass · tube · roll · cabinet · mark

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. mug — a face
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. mug — to rob
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. roll — a cake
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. tube — the underground
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bass — the fish
  14. snap — to click
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. roll — a list
  21. bass — low music
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. roll — on a roll

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