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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: can · rush · bear · bowl · pit · plane · chip · cap

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. chip — to eat
  3. can — a tin
  4. cap — of ice
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bear — the animal
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. chip — for betting
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. can — a tin
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. cap — a hat
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. pit — in a race
  24. bear — the animal

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