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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: toast · suit · fan · bear · deal · wind · bass · rush

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — to handle
  4. toast — bread
  5. suit — to fit
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. wind — moving air
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — clothes
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. wind — moving air
  20. bass — low music
  21. rush — hurry
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — the animal

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