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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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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: rest · rush · sharp · march · bulb · deal · mug · staff

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. sharp — clever
  3. march — the month
  4. mug — a cup
  5. march — music
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. staff — employees
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rest — a break
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rest — what's left
  17. mug — a face
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. march — the month
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bulb — for light

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