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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: kid · rock · pass · rush · fan · mouse · leaves · bear

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rock — music
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bear — the animal
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bear — the animal
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. pass — a permit
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. kid — to tease
  16. rock — a stone
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. kid — child
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rush — hurry

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