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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.

Make a worksheet

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: net · pitcher · hide · tube · rush · mug · fine · rule

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. mug — a face
  3. rule — a law
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. tube — the underground
  8. rush — hurry
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. net — for catching
  15. mug — to rob
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mug — a cup
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. tube — a container
  21. rule — government
  22. fine — all right
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. hide — animal skin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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