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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 116 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: mouse · ground · can · wake · pitch · trunk · tube · rush

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. ground — a position
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. wake — a trail
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. can — to be able to
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — a container
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. rush — hurry
  17. pitch — completely
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. ground — crushed
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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