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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 116 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 · rash · key · plane · pop · rock · cap · bore

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cap — a lid
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. key — the most important part
  8. cap — of ice
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — music
  11. cap — a hat
  12. pop — soda
  13. key — for a lock
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bore — to drill
  17. pop — music
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. plane — a tool
  21. bore — to tire
  22. pop — to visit
  23. key — in music
  24. rash — hasty

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