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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 · pit · tube · fine · net · lash · deal · leaves

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. tube — a container
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. deal — to handle
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. pit — in a race
  7. fine — all right
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. net — for catching
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. net — after costs
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. pit — a hole
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. fine — high quality
  23. net — in sport
  24. deal — an agreement

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