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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: mouse · tube · safe · last · vault · bass · rash · rush

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. rash — a series
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. last — final
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. vault — a safe
  7. tube — the underground
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. last — to go on
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. last — finally
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bass — low music
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rash — hasty
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. rush — to hurry

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