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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: rest · stand · can · pass · tube · club · rush · march

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rest — what's left
  3. march — the month
  4. march — the month
  5. pass — a permit
  6. tube — a container
  7. can — to be able to
  8. tube — the underground
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. rest — what's left
  13. stand — to bear
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. club — for golf
  16. rest — a break
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. can — a tin
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. march — music
  21. rush — hurry
  22. club — a group
  23. club — for dancing
  24. can — a tin

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