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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 124 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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · nail · cue · rock · pop · rush · calf · bass

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. pop — soda
  3. cue — a hint
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. rush — hurry
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rock — a stone
  9. tube — a container
  10. cue — a signal
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pop — to visit
  14. bass — the fish
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bass — low music
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rock — music
  19. pop — music
  20. cue — for pool
  21. tube — the underground
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bass — the instrument

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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