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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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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: rash · rest · snap · bound · pit · mouse · stand · fork

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. rash — a series
  5. rest — what's left
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bound — obliged
  8. stand — to bear
  9. fork — in a road
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. snap — to click
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. rest — a break
  16. bound — certain
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pit — in a race
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rest — what's left

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