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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 116 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: cue · tube · ground · pop · pass · leaves · nail · rash

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. pop — to visit
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cue — a hint
  7. rash — a series
  8. tube — a container
  9. tube — the underground
  10. ground — a position
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. pop — soda
  14. cue — a signal
  15. rash — hasty
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. ground — the earth
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. ground — crushed
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. cue — for pool
  23. pass — a permit
  24. rash — on the skin

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