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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 120 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: rush · chip · track · fan · rash · leaves · fine · squash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. squash — the sport
  4. fine — all right
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. track — a song
  8. track — a path
  9. rash — hasty
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. chip — to eat
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. squash — to crush
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. chip — for betting
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. track — to keep track

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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