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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: jam · cue · hide · mouse · tube · nail · bark · pass

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cue — a signal
  10. tube — the underground
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cue — for pool
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. tube — a container
  22. bark — to shout
  23. pass — a permit
  24. mouse — the animal

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