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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: saw · deal · firm · rush · bark · rash · straw · toast

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. deal — to handle
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rash — hasty
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rash — a series
  9. firm — steady
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. firm — a company
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. firm — decided
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. rush — hurry
  22. toast — bread
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. deal — an agreement

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