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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: tube · plane · rush · rock · mine · can · bass · fine

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — a stone
  7. tube — the underground
  8. fine — all right
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mine — for digging
  13. can — to be able to
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fine — high quality
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — music
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. tube — a container
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the instrument

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