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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: rush · bass · vault · suit · current · season · wake · arm

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. rush — hurry
  5. wake — a trail
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. vault — a safe
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. current — happening now
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. suit — to fit
  13. current — of water
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — of the year
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — low music
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. current — electric
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. suit — clothes

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