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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 120 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: rush · stand · nail · fall · wave · tube · temple · saw

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fall — to drop
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. stand — to bear
  11. rush — hurry
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fall — to drop
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. tube — a container
  18. saw — the tool
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. tube — the underground
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. rush — to hurry

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