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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: calf · nail · can · ball · temple · rush · stand · tube

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. tube — the underground
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. can — a tin
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. ball — a dance
  13. can — a tin
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rush — hurry
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. ball — a great time
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. tube — a container
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stand — to bear
  24. can — to be able to

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