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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: press · vault · land · plane · nail · rush · tube · can

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. land — ground
  5. plane — a tool
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. vault — a safe
  8. land — a country
  9. rush — hurry
  10. land — to come down
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. tube — the underground
  13. press — newspapers
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. can — a tin
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. press — a publisher
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. press — to push
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. can — a tin
  24. nail — for a hammer

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