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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.

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: wake · lean · racket · saw · present · nail · rash · deal

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. saw — the tool
  5. wake — a trail
  6. lean — thin
  7. lean — to bend
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. saw — the tool
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. deal — to handle
  15. rash — hasty
  16. present — there
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. present — the time now
  22. present — a gift
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. wake — before a funeral

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