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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
468
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: rush · wound · tube · pass · lie · safe · cue · mate

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. pass — a permit
  3. mate — to breed
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. tube — the underground
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mate — a friend
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. tube — a container
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — an injury
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mate — a partner
  24. lie — to recline

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