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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.

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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 · mark · racket · rock · deal · bulb · chair · mate

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mark — a grade
  4. deal — to handle
  5. rock — music
  6. mate — a partner
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. chair — a leader
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rush — hurry
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rock — a stone
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mate — a friend

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