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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: plane · rest · mug · ruler · leaves · rash · tube · track

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. rest — what's left
  4. tube — the underground
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. track — to keep track
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. track — a song
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. mug — to rob
  15. rash — a series
  16. plane — a tool
  17. rash — hasty
  18. tube — a container
  19. rest — a break
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mug — a face
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. rest — what's left
  24. track — a path

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