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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
468
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: bear · ball · rush · kick · foot · tube · pit · bass

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bear — the animal
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. tube — a container
  5. pit — in a race
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. bass — the fish
  8. ball — a great time
  9. pit — a hole
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. kick — in football
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. foot — a measure
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. ball — a dance
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bass — low music
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. tube — the underground

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