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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: game · track · press · wave · deal · cabinet · tube · can

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. can — to be able to
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. track — to keep track
  5. tube — a container
  6. track — a song
  7. tube — the underground
  8. press — newspapers
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. deal — to handle
  13. press — a publisher
  14. track — a path
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. game — wild animals
  20. can — a tin
  21. game — a match
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. press — to push
  24. can — a tin

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