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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: tube · club · cap · rush · can · mark · arm · sharp

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. can — a tin
  5. cap — a hat
  6. tube — the underground
  7. sharp — clever
  8. mark — a trace
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. club — for golf
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. club — a group
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rush — hurry
  19. club — for dancing
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. cap — of ice
  22. cap — a lid
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mark — a grade

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