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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: mark · rush · club · arm · file · rash · bowl · can

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. mark — a trace
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. file — a document
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. file — a tool
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. file — a line of people
  16. club — for golf
  17. club — for dancing
  18. club — a group
  19. can — a tin
  20. rush — hurry
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. mark — a grade
  23. rash — a series
  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