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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: rash · pop · can · cue · march · rush · pass · chip

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. chip — for betting
  3. pass — a permit
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rash — a series
  6. pop — soda
  7. march — the month
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. rash — hasty
  11. pop — music
  12. cue — for pool
  13. march — music
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rush — hurry
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pop — to visit
  20. cue — a hint
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — to eat
  24. rash — on the skin

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