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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.

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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: suit · firm · coach · row · file · rush · tube · can

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. can — a tin
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. suit — to fit
  5. suit — in cards
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. firm — a company
  8. firm — decided
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. file — a document
  11. can — to be able to
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. file — a tool
  14. firm — steady
  15. tube — the underground
  16. suit — clothes
  17. can — a tin
  18. file — a line of people
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. row — to paddle
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. row — a line
  23. rush — hurry
  24. coach — a trainer

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