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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: track · squash · staff · mouse · rush · saw · charge · deal

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  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. track — a path
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. staff — a stick
  4. staff — employees
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. charge — in control
  11. deal — to handle
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. squash — to crush
  15. squash — the sport
  16. track — a song
  17. staff — employees
  18. saw — the tool
  19. charge — electricity
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. track — to keep track
  22. charge — a price
  23. mouse — the animal
  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