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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: fine · leaves · bulb · mug · date · rush · can · tube

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. mug — to rob
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. date — the fruit
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. mug — a cup
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. fine — all right
  12. tube — the underground
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mug — a face
  15. tube — a container
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. bulb — for light
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. can — a tin
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. fine — high quality

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