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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: snap · saw · staff · fan · pit · content · ruler · tube

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. tube — the underground
  5. content — the amount
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. tube — a container
  9. saw — the tool
  10. content — happy
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. snap — to click
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — a stick
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. pit — a hole
  21. saw — the tool
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. staff — employees

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