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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: rush · fan · safe · racket · date · tube · net · deal

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. tube — the underground
  4. date — the fruit
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. rush — hurry
  13. net — after costs
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. tube — a container
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. deal — to handle
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. net — for catching
  24. fan — to cool the air

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