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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: pass · deal · tube · rush · jam · land · suit · foot

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. tube — the underground
  4. land — a country
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. pass — a permit
  8. tube — a container
  9. deal — to handle
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. suit — in cards
  14. land — ground
  15. suit — to fit
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. land — to come down
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. rush — hurry
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. foot — a measure
  24. jam — a tight spot

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