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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 120 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: can · tube · game · track · mug · pass · mouse · lash

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. tube — a container
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mug — a face
  7. game — wild animals
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mug — to rob
  12. track — a path
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. tube — the underground
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. can — to be able to
  17. track — a song
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. can — a tin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. game — a match
  23. can — a tin
  24. track — to keep track

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