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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: wind · rush · suit · lean · straw · jam · mark · fork

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. wind — moving air
  4. lean — thin
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. wind — moving air
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. suit — to fit
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — in cards
  20. mark — a trace
  21. lean — to bend
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. rush — hurry
  24. fork — in a road

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