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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: wake · jam · rash · racket · rush · rock · saw · foot

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. foot — a measure
  8. rash — a series
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. wake — a trail
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rash — hasty
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rock — music
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rush — hurry
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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