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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: rash · nail · tube · track · mug · rock · suit · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. tube — a container
  3. tube — the underground
  4. rock — a stone
  5. track — to keep track
  6. mug — a face
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mug — to rob
  9. suit — to fit
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — a series
  14. mug — a cup
  15. suit — in cards
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. track — a song
  21. track — a path
  22. rock — music
  23. rash — hasty
  24. suit — clothes

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